Now Dogs are Being Rescued...LOL C'Mon Outdoor People!

Russ B wrote:

0 dollars. 

Yes. Salt Lake County doesn’t charge for rescues. 

Marc801 C wrote:

Yes. Salt Lake County doesn’t charge for rescues. 

The question, then, is how much did it cost SLCOSAR?  According to a recent post seeking donations (in the link below), "the team performs, free of charge, nearly 100 rescues a year at an average cost of $12,000 per rescue to the team."  I doubt this was a $12k rescue, helecoptor rides probably pull that average way up, but it also didn't cost nothing.

If you want to help SLCOSAR recoup the cost of this heckin' goodboi's rescue, head to http://saltlakesearchandrescue.org/donation/

Snow Flake wrote:

The question, then, is how much did it cost SLCOSAR?  According to a recent post seeking donations (in the link below), "the team performs, free of charge, nearly 100 rescues a year at an average cost of $12,000 per rescue to the team."  I doubt this was a $12k rescue, helecoptor rides probably pull that average way up, but it also didn't cost nothing.

If you want to help SLCOSAR recoup the cost of this heckin' goodboi's rescue, head to http://saltlakesearchandrescue.org/donation/

The rescue was provided to the person for free. the incurred internal "cost" to the rescue team is irrelevant. 

Edit: of course, donations are always welcome...but this shouldn't be used as a method to recoup the "cost" of a rescue. donations should be a means for people to support their SAR team with whatever they can afford.

curt86iroc wrote:

The rescue was provided to the person for free. the incurred internal "cost" to the rescue team is irrelevant. 

Um what?

change my mind...

13/10 would rescue this good boi

Snow Flake wrote:

Um what?

SAR units are first responders. They usually don't charge, and don't think of it that way.

Support SAR in your area the same way you should contribute (as you can) to ASCA, climbing coalitions, and the Access Fund. A lot of what we have access to as climbers is there through the generosity of volunteers.

And 12k would have to include something big, like man-hours (if they had to be paid), helicopters, or the value of all equipment involved. All that has to be considered, but it isn't being replaced every time. Still, it is a lot of stuff most units have on hand, and a different level of quality and redundancy from what climbers use.

Best, Helen

Snow Flake wrote:

The question, then, is how much did it cost SLCOSAR?  According to a recent post seeking donations (in the link below), "the team performs, free of charge, nearly 100 rescues a year at an average cost of $12,000 per rescue to the team."  I doubt this was a $12k rescue, helecoptor rides probably pull that average way up, but it also didn't cost nothing.

If you want to help SLCOSAR recoup the cost of this heckin' goodboi's rescue, head to http://saltlakesearchandrescue.org/donation/

The problem with the average cost method is that they usually count for the entire cost to run the program for the year. Which regardless of amount of rescues will be run anyway.

I worked with a private rescue group at one time and they spent $60k on a small building, vehicle insurance, etc, etc. all of the Responders paid out of pocket for their certifications. 
SLC probably counts Helo, maintenance, and gear in that initial cost. This skews numbers a lot.

I question that $12,000 figure.  Our group did, and still does not charge for rescues, although donations and support are welcome.  Time and personal equipment are donated, often tax deductible.  The typical operation involves a deputy who probably earns overtime. Perhaps a helo was invovlved, either from the highway patrol or the local air force base.

The chopper pilots relished rescue calls because they were far more challenging that their usual delivery missions.  The air force charged their expenses to "training."

If you ask me, it was a good deal for the taxpayer -sensible use of available resources, all to a positive end.

In general, charging for SAR services rendered causes people  to  not call for a rescue which tends to develop rather bad outcomes (and someone still has to perform a body recovery).

And here I thought that encouraging contributions to a particularly great SAR organization on a climbing forum would be uncontroversial.  Don't ever change, Mountain Project.

Snow Flake wrote: And here I thought that encouraging contributions to a particularly great SAR organization on a climbing forum would be uncontroversial.  Don't ever change, Mountain Project.

no one is disagreeing with you.

my point was, we shouldn't try to relate the "cost" of a rescue to the value of donations a person should make. some people just can't donate hundreds of dollars to their SAR team...but trust me, the SAR team is happy to take whatever they can give...whether it's a monetary donation, their time or even food :)

Charge the humans responsible for the dog.