General Information

Serial #

N/A

Part Number

1

Total Parts

2

AKA

N/A

Patents

N/A

General Description

Vest made of synthetic fibres with synthetic clips, metal buckles and a metal bell

Dimensions

Note: These reflect the general size for storage and are not necessarily representative of the object's true dimensions.

Length

50.0 cm

Width

33.0 cm

Height

9.8 cm

Thickness

N/A

Weight

N/A

Diameter

N/A

Volume

N/A

Lexicon

Group

Fire Fighting

Category

Clothing & personal safety apparatus

Sub-Category

N/A

Manufacturer

AKA

K9

Country

Canada

State/Province

Unknown

City

Unknown

Context

Country

Canada

State/Province

Alberta

Period

2013-2016

Canada

All of the gear in this loadout has been used by Baillie in training and in the field as part of Baillie and Kit’s SAR operations in Canmore, Alberta (2013-2016). As of the last time Kit and I spoke, Baillie had been deployed with this gear in the field a total of three times: during the Southern Alberta floods (June-July 2013), after a massive gas explosion in Cougar Creek in Canmore (June-July 2015), and during a search for a missing woman in Canmore (August 2015). Notably, Baillie cut the pad of her paw on debris during the second deployment, leading Kit to incorporate K9 booties into her regular loadout to prevent future injuries of this nature. (Taken from Acquisition Proposal, context is for the whole kit, see Ref. 1)

Function

To permit SAR K9s to carry out their duty in the field as safely as effectively as possible. This includes repelling into dangerous environments (like collapsed buildings), navigating dangerous terrain (including grounds littered with nails, cracked cement, broken glass, and other debris), and staying in constant communication with handlers in the field (via body-mounted cameras and audio feedback equipment). (Taken from Acquisition Proposal, see Ref. 1)

Technical

This K9 loadout features a number of significant Canadian technical innovations. Baillie’s custom-fitted SAR K9 Vest, for example, is manufactured by K9 Storm Inc. of Winnipeg, Manitoba. According to Kit, K9 Storm represents the bleeding edge of K9 work equipment, and the company fills contracts for K9 military and SAR operations all over the world. All K9 Storm equipment is designed, built, and quality-controlled in Canada. Another example is Baillie’s body-mounted camera equipment. Still in the proof of concept phase, this equipment was custom-made by Kit himself to afford greater communication with Baillie while in the field. (The camera permits Kit to see what Baillie sees, and adapt his verbal instructions – delivered through a body-worn audio system – in real-time). The camera was sourced from a disassembled mass-market drone camera rig, and then fitted to Baillie’s vest using custom-built components. Kit has also developed other custom handling equipment, including a “quick-release” deployment device that was facilitated by attaching a “Petzl Frog” mounting-climbing clip to Baillie’s leash. It is still to be determined whether the rest of the equipment in this loadout is Canadian-made, but several of the other items (notably the “Muff Mutts” Ear Defenders and “Ruff Wear” K9 Booties) represent interesting technical innovations in canine wearable technology, and have strong Canadian provenance as a result of Baillie’s use of the technology in Alberta. (Taken from Acquisition Proposal, context is for the whole kit, see Ref. 1)

Area Notes

Unknown

Details

Markings

Embroidered on a flap by the zipper: "CAN TF-2 - BAILLIE"/ On the proper left side: "BAILLIE" embroidered near the proper front/ "[logo]/ K9 STORM"/ On a patch attached with hook and loop: "SEARCH AND RESCUE"/ On the patch on the proper right side: "ALBERTA/ CAN TF2/ USAR"

Missing

Appears complete

Finish

The vest is predominantly black and red, with some grey and white embroidery, grey metal buckles, a black metal buckle with brass-coloured release buttons, and a black and blue metal bell. On the proper right side there is a circular patch with white and black markings and white, blue and red design elements.

Decoration

N/A