What’s Happening at Scarborough Beach Proves Mainers Prefer Dogs Over Humans

It’s been an age-old adage for not just decades, but probably centuries – dogs are better than humans. In fact, you can take it one step further and go with a second adage used just as much – humans don’t deserve dogs. Both are entirely true, and it seems like Park Management at Scarborough Beach State Park are fully buying into both adages with changes they’re making.

American Academy of Canine Water Rescue

If you didn’t realize it was an actual thing, it is. The American Academy of Canine Water Rescue, which is based in Massachusetts, takes training techniques and philosophies from an organization in Milan, Italy, The Italian School of Rescue Dogs, and apply it to American Dogs to help aid local lifeguards, the Coast Guard, and more.

According to The American Academy of Canine Water Rescue, Newfoundland dogs, Labrador Retrievers and a few other breeds were specifically bred to rescue people in the water. Which is why Beacon, a 14-month-old Newfoundland, according to Portland Press Herald, was recently brought to Scarborough Beach State Park with four other pups to start training.

Two of the four dogs that were with Beacon at Scarborough Beach a couple of weeks ago have already been certified through The Italian School of Rescue Dogs, while two others – another Newfoundland and a German Shepherd – were training alongside Beacon.

Beacon will eventually be a certified Second Responder

The Park Manager, Greg Wilfert, told the Press Herald that while Beacon won’t become a First Responder when her training is all said and done, she’ll be a Second Responder and actually help the lifeguards themselves get back to shore while they’re aiding someone in need.

While other certified dogs from The Italian School of Rescue Dogs receive open-water training by jumping out of helicopters in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, Greg told the Press Herald that it won’t be as intense for Beacon. While she won’t be jumping out of any helicopters into the Atlantic Ocean, Beacon has joined some of her fellow human lifeguards on their Jet Ski for training sessions.

While the Press Herald reports that Beacon is progressing at a fast rate according to the American Academy of Canine Water Rescue, it’s unknown when her training will be complete and she’ll be a full-time second responder at Scarborough Beach. Regardless of the timetable, though, Mainers and tourists can feel extra safe body surfing and floating in the Atlantic in Scarborough.