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Go Find: My Journey to Find the Lost--and Myself
Somewhere between hunting for gold in Latin America as a geologist and marriage to a new husband, 33-year-old Susan Purvis loses her way.Susan comes to believe that a puppy and working on ski patrol at the last great ski town in Colorado will improve her life. When she learns about avalanches that bury people without warning, she challenges herself: "What if I teach a dog to save lives?" This quest propels her to train the best possible search dog, vowing to never leave anyone behind.With no clue how to care for a houseplant, let alone a dog, she chooses five-week-old Labrador retriever, Tasha. With the face of a baby bear and the temperament of an NFL linebacker, Tasha constantly tests Susan's determination to transform her into a rescue dog. Susan and Tasha jockey for alpha position as they pursue certification in avalanche, water, and wilderness recovery. Susan eventually learns to truly communicate with Tasha by seeing the world through her dog's nose.As the first female team in a male-dominated search and rescue community, they face resistance at every turn. They won't get paid even a bag of kibble for their efforts, yet they launch dozens of missions to rescue the missing or recover the remains of victims of nature and crime.Training with Tasha in the field to find, recover and rescue the lost became Susan's passion. But it was also her circumstance-she was in many ways as lost as anyone she ever pulled out of an avalanche or found huddled in the woods. "Lostness" doesn't only apply to losing the trail. People can get lost in a relationship, a business or a life. Susan was convinced that only happened to other people, until Tasha and a life in the mountains taught her otherwise.
384 pages, Hardcover
Published October 2, 2018
122 people are currently reading
1078 people want to read
About the author
Susan Purvis
2 books32 followersSusan Purvis saves lives and teaches others to do the same.
Her writing has appeared in the New York Times Modern Love Column.
Susan is a Lead Instructor with Wilderness Medical Associates and the American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education (AIARE). She is a professional member of the American Avalanche Association (AAA), the Explorers Club, and a Wilderness Medical Society member.
Susan’s love for adventure and medicine has taken her to the hottest, coldest, and highest places on earth: Ethiopia, Antarctica, and Nepal. As a wilderness medicine expert and extraordinary speaker, Susan has worked on film sets for National Geographic Channel, truTV, appeared on the science documentary, The Hottest Place on Earth, aired on the BBC and Discovery. She’s been featured or quoted in the Wall Street Journal, Smithsonian, on CNN, television, numerous magazines, and newspaper articles.
Since 1998, Susan has owned and operated Crested Butte Outdoors International, based in Whitefish, Montana (www.cboutdoors.com). Her mission is to teach students how to think critically in unconventional settings.
An explorer by passion, Susan combines wilderness medicine, desert survival, exploration geology, and K-9 search and rescue to land jobs on all seven continents. She teaches high altitude medicine for the local Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Everest Guides. Susan has served as a medic at a remote field camp and ice breaker in Antarctica, explored for gold in the Dominican Republic and produced a documentary in the Amazon jungle. Susan also spent a decade working at an urgent care ski clinic in Crested Butte where she also worked as a professional ski patroller, guide, K-9 avalanche expert and SAR member. Susan was named a brand Ambassador for Marmot and received Congressional Recognition for her role in avalanche search and rescue.
When Susan is not teaching you can find her boating on the cold, clear rivers in northern Montana or in search of the last snow powder stash. Go Find is her first book. www.susanpurvis.com
Her writing has appeared in the New York Times Modern Love Column.
Susan is a Lead Instructor with Wilderness Medical Associates and the American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education (AIARE). She is a professional member of the American Avalanche Association (AAA), the Explorers Club, and a Wilderness Medical Society member.
Susan’s love for adventure and medicine has taken her to the hottest, coldest, and highest places on earth: Ethiopia, Antarctica, and Nepal. As a wilderness medicine expert and extraordinary speaker, Susan has worked on film sets for National Geographic Channel, truTV, appeared on the science documentary, The Hottest Place on Earth, aired on the BBC and Discovery. She’s been featured or quoted in the Wall Street Journal, Smithsonian, on CNN, television, numerous magazines, and newspaper articles.
Since 1998, Susan has owned and operated Crested Butte Outdoors International, based in Whitefish, Montana (www.cboutdoors.com). Her mission is to teach students how to think critically in unconventional settings.
An explorer by passion, Susan combines wilderness medicine, desert survival, exploration geology, and K-9 search and rescue to land jobs on all seven continents. She teaches high altitude medicine for the local Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Everest Guides. Susan has served as a medic at a remote field camp and ice breaker in Antarctica, explored for gold in the Dominican Republic and produced a documentary in the Amazon jungle. Susan also spent a decade working at an urgent care ski clinic in Crested Butte where she also worked as a professional ski patroller, guide, K-9 avalanche expert and SAR member. Susan was named a brand Ambassador for Marmot and received Congressional Recognition for her role in avalanche search and rescue.
When Susan is not teaching you can find her boating on the cold, clear rivers in northern Montana or in search of the last snow powder stash. Go Find is her first book. www.susanpurvis.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 103 reviews
September 23, 2018
I really liked this book by Sue Purvis about her dream and journey for her and her new puppy to be able to help when people became lost. They started on their way to becoming certified in search and rescue in avalanches, wilderness, water or whatever was thrown their way. She began learning the requirements and then began training her black Lab, Tasha. The book shares their quest for certifications and their various missions during their career. It’s so amazing what these dogs can do. I recommend for memoir and dog lovers everywhere. Tasha is a superhero and still a stinker at times :-) An advance digital copy was provided by NetGalley, author Susan Purvis, and the publisher for my fair review.
Blackstone Publishing
Pub: Oct 2nd, 2018
My BookZone blog:
https://wordpress.com/post/bookblog20...
Blackstone Publishing
Pub: Oct 2nd, 2018
My BookZone blog:
https://wordpress.com/post/bookblog20...
January 10, 2019
This was good for what it was: a women’s story about relationships and resilience. Poorly written and poorly narrated. The personality of the author really bothered me, I found her pretty unlikeable which may be why my review isn’t as high as others. She would complain about other peoples actions and turn around and do the exact thing in the next chapter. Quick and easy read.
May 28, 2018
Go, Find by Susan Purvis. I enjoyed this book. I’ve been a dog trainer for many years and even dabbled very briefly into the ‘search and rescue’ world. I applaud Susan for the time she spent learning as much as she could, certifying herself and her dog to do the task at hand and also to help bring the ‘search community’ validation and honor.
It’s hard to believe she got a puppy and then decided to help save lives and actually did it when she had very little experience in that field. I was moved by the fact that she takes us along on her journey and shows her vulnerability in the search and rescue world and also her life itself. She persevered in a time when a search dog team was not the first thing anyone thought about in a crisis. The ego of some of the SAR teams was definitely real and being a woman made it even more difficult.
She shows how hard work and perseverance pays off in the long run. She also shows what it is like to develop a special and rare relationship with a dog. If you like dogs and have an interest in SAR then I believe you will enjoy this book.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
It’s hard to believe she got a puppy and then decided to help save lives and actually did it when she had very little experience in that field. I was moved by the fact that she takes us along on her journey and shows her vulnerability in the search and rescue world and also her life itself. She persevered in a time when a search dog team was not the first thing anyone thought about in a crisis. The ego of some of the SAR teams was definitely real and being a woman made it even more difficult.
She shows how hard work and perseverance pays off in the long run. She also shows what it is like to develop a special and rare relationship with a dog. If you like dogs and have an interest in SAR then I believe you will enjoy this book.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
April 27, 2018
Go Find is a roller coaster ride carrying the reader on Susan Purvis’s quest to train an avalanche dog to save lives. She candidly admits she had no idea how to teach Tasha, a strong-willed black Lab puppy, and her errors often result in hilarious consequences.
Despite opposition, the dog-and-woman team always pushes forward, gaining skills and confidence. Their strong bond keeps them going through frequent failures and devastating setbacks. Eventually they achieve successes that are nationally recognized by law enforcement, the Secret Service, and Congress.
Sprinkled in with adventures are fascinating tidbits about the science of scent detection and avalanche prediction. Susan explains complicated concepts in a way that’s understandable to the lay reader.
While training sessions are often humorous, the actual search missions are stark terror—traveling in steep mountains in bitter cold, on constant alert for avalanches, seeking lost victims who may or may not be alive. Susan and Tasha risk their lives for no pay. Sometimes their only reward is the satisfaction that they brought home bodies for grieving families to bury.
Following her dream comes at great personal cost but Susan also discovers unexpected rewards. She develops a successful business that takes her all over the globe, teaching others how to save lives in the wilderness.
Go Find is a fast-moving, thrilling adventure as well as a study of one woman’s independence, resilience, and perseverance.
Debbie Burke, Author of the award-winning thriller Instrument of the Devil, blogger on The Kill Zone, http://debbieburkewriter.com
Despite opposition, the dog-and-woman team always pushes forward, gaining skills and confidence. Their strong bond keeps them going through frequent failures and devastating setbacks. Eventually they achieve successes that are nationally recognized by law enforcement, the Secret Service, and Congress.
Sprinkled in with adventures are fascinating tidbits about the science of scent detection and avalanche prediction. Susan explains complicated concepts in a way that’s understandable to the lay reader.
While training sessions are often humorous, the actual search missions are stark terror—traveling in steep mountains in bitter cold, on constant alert for avalanches, seeking lost victims who may or may not be alive. Susan and Tasha risk their lives for no pay. Sometimes their only reward is the satisfaction that they brought home bodies for grieving families to bury.
Following her dream comes at great personal cost but Susan also discovers unexpected rewards. She develops a successful business that takes her all over the globe, teaching others how to save lives in the wilderness.
Go Find is a fast-moving, thrilling adventure as well as a study of one woman’s independence, resilience, and perseverance.
Debbie Burke, Author of the award-winning thriller Instrument of the Devil, blogger on The Kill Zone, http://debbieburkewriter.com
April 2, 2019
I am fascinated by this topic. I was disappointed in that the training sounded very haphazard. Ms Purvis's dog did not have a reliable recall for what seemed a very long time. I found it understandable that rescue groups were frustrated by this lack of control. The author was very upset by dogs that had not received their certification working rescue missions, but she didn't really give a good explanation for her concern. There may be one, but I didn't hear it in this book. I was more interested in the actual search and rescue and not so much in the marriage situation and the politics of rescue groups. I think Kate Braestrup's book Here If You Need Me gave a better look rescue from a psychological perspective and Falling Season by Hal Clifford a better explanation of avalanche and rescue in the Colorado mountains.
March 23, 2021
I love dog books and SAR books so this seemed like a natural fit. I did like parts of it and a lot of the detailed information was interesting, but it is more a memoir of a deeply dysfunctional marriage than anything else. I found both the author and her husband incredibly rage-inducing and would personally have divorced both of them and drop-kicked them into a volcano back in 1996 at the latest.
January 30, 2019
I enjoyed learning about the search and rescue, and dog training aspects of this memoir. However, I found the quality of the writing wasn't great. While I appreciated the author's honesty and willingness to write about her own mistakes and struggles working within the S&R 'system', I was irritated by the tone of her rants and complaints about the treatment she received from others.
October 26, 2019
As a SAR K9 handler and team leader, there were several sections in the book that made me cringe. We never make a promise to find someone who is lost, but we'll make our best effort to find them. Also, she would rant about uncertified K9 teams, but then do searches for which she was not certified.
April 22, 2018
Susan Purvis Her pup her life drew me right in to her adventures struggles real honest life stories highly recommend.
March 29, 2025
I read a lot of SAR books. I mean A LOT, because in my fantasy world I’m a cadaver dog handler looking for bodies with my trusty border collie who finds everything. Anyway, this is a really good SAR memoir. What makes it so good? Well, for one thing, that the author remembers exactly how it feels to be new, naive, and lacking confidence. The transformation of her and her dog into a smooth team was very satisfying. Also, even though she writes more about her relationship than I would think I would like to see in a SAR memoir, it actually fits perfectly and flows. Finally, the way she is interested in the bodies she finds is exactly how I feel about it based on my very limited SAR experience. Great book. I keep waiting for the universe to reveal to me how I will ever have the time and money to be a SAR dog handler.
November 8, 2022
I am giving this book a 4.5 star rating, but will give that with a long conversation on how I rate books, and rate this book, and compare it to others on the same topic of Search and Rescue dogs.
I like to take things as they are, and I thought the book stood on its own and was a great book. I love reading about people who train their dogs or Search & Rescue (including Avalanche S&R). People who have the dedication to spend their time and money to be there to save lives are hero’s. And one criterion for me to enjoy this type of book is to hear all about the training, including the trials involved. This book was great on all that.
Also, in this book was the story of the author’s growth and the progression of her marriage. Some of these parts were not as comfortable or enjoyable for me, but I appreciate her baring her soul and exposing her difficulties. These aspects may be what some people really may need to hear. Or some people may not like it. While I know ever person has their own trials, I know some people who are fairly strong and well adjusted, may not relate to people who are weak in areas they are strong in. I just appreciate letting me ride along with them to see how their story plays out. She definitely was strong enough to dedicate herself to training the dog, and being fit enough to do the job of saving lives. So I take her story as it is and want to say, ‘You did a good job Susan.’
Lastly, I would like to compare it to other similar books. There were some dramatic rescues in this book so that is very good, but unfortunately part of the job is waiting until your dog is trained, waiting until people trust you to call you in, and waiting for when there is an emergency where a S&R dog team is needed. Other books have more stories of rescues, and less of the emotional baggage in this book, so in terms of priority of similar books, I would put some other books on S&R ahead of this one. I enjoyed “So That Others May Live: Caroline Hebard & Her Search-And-Rescue Dogs” by Hank Whittemore as my favorite. I also really liked ‘What the Dog Knows: The Science and Wonder of Working Dogs’ by Cat Warren in an equal or greater Position than ‘Go Find.’ But all three are great books, and each cover some of the same ground and some new ground. So, I recommend you read all 3.
Also, I want to mention ‘Ready!: Training the Search and Rescue Dog (Kennel Club Pro)’ by Susan Bulanda. Great step by step instructions. If you really want to do this work with your dog, you would need to work with a local Search and Rescue organization, but all these would give you different insights. And if you just want to dream of doing this kind of work, or maybe just work a little in that direction on your own with your dog, it is a great book to have in your personal collection.
Since S&R with dogs is one of my favorite topics, appreciate it if anyone reading this will let me know of any books I should read and include.
One last things, if you are someone who doesn't like the inevitable ending of dogs and reading it in books, stop reading toward the end of page 340. Missing the last 4 pages is ok if it helps you enjoy the book more.
I like to take things as they are, and I thought the book stood on its own and was a great book. I love reading about people who train their dogs or Search & Rescue (including Avalanche S&R). People who have the dedication to spend their time and money to be there to save lives are hero’s. And one criterion for me to enjoy this type of book is to hear all about the training, including the trials involved. This book was great on all that.
Also, in this book was the story of the author’s growth and the progression of her marriage. Some of these parts were not as comfortable or enjoyable for me, but I appreciate her baring her soul and exposing her difficulties. These aspects may be what some people really may need to hear. Or some people may not like it. While I know ever person has their own trials, I know some people who are fairly strong and well adjusted, may not relate to people who are weak in areas they are strong in. I just appreciate letting me ride along with them to see how their story plays out. She definitely was strong enough to dedicate herself to training the dog, and being fit enough to do the job of saving lives. So I take her story as it is and want to say, ‘You did a good job Susan.’
Lastly, I would like to compare it to other similar books. There were some dramatic rescues in this book so that is very good, but unfortunately part of the job is waiting until your dog is trained, waiting until people trust you to call you in, and waiting for when there is an emergency where a S&R dog team is needed. Other books have more stories of rescues, and less of the emotional baggage in this book, so in terms of priority of similar books, I would put some other books on S&R ahead of this one. I enjoyed “So That Others May Live: Caroline Hebard & Her Search-And-Rescue Dogs” by Hank Whittemore as my favorite. I also really liked ‘What the Dog Knows: The Science and Wonder of Working Dogs’ by Cat Warren in an equal or greater Position than ‘Go Find.’ But all three are great books, and each cover some of the same ground and some new ground. So, I recommend you read all 3.
Also, I want to mention ‘Ready!: Training the Search and Rescue Dog (Kennel Club Pro)’ by Susan Bulanda. Great step by step instructions. If you really want to do this work with your dog, you would need to work with a local Search and Rescue organization, but all these would give you different insights. And if you just want to dream of doing this kind of work, or maybe just work a little in that direction on your own with your dog, it is a great book to have in your personal collection.
Since S&R with dogs is one of my favorite topics, appreciate it if anyone reading this will let me know of any books I should read and include.
One last things, if you are someone who doesn't like the inevitable ending of dogs and reading it in books, stop reading toward the end of page 340. Missing the last 4 pages is ok if it helps you enjoy the book more.
October 1, 2018
This memoir explores the bonds between an avalanche rescue dog and her human.
I'm not a "dog person" but have already recommended this book to so many friends. Will appeal to dog lovers as well as those who love real-life adventures such as Cheryl Strayed's WILD. The author spent years working with ski patrol, search-and-rescue, and wilderness first responder teams. This is a story of a young woman and her dog, Tasha, who grow together in their quest to save lives and find lost people in rugged, remote, and dangerous wilderness areas. The author does an excellent job explaining logistics of some of their missions as well as detailing the inner journey of a woman torn between her devotion to her marriage and her search-and-rescue career. I love the photos that are included in this debut memoir. Dog lovers who have never set foot in the mountains will still love the ups and downs of training a naughty puppy to follow commands and overcome extreme challenges.
While the author Susan, and her husband Doug live a lifestyle that many could envy (international work, life in the Rocky Mountains, adventure) there are gaps in the marriage that lead Susan to yearn for something new and different. She embarks on a quest to find herself through search-and-rescue work. Passages with actual rescue scenarios in extreme environments and details about dog training are my favorite parts of this debut memoir.
This honest review is based on an ARC from NetGalley.
I'm not a "dog person" but have already recommended this book to so many friends. Will appeal to dog lovers as well as those who love real-life adventures such as Cheryl Strayed's WILD. The author spent years working with ski patrol, search-and-rescue, and wilderness first responder teams. This is a story of a young woman and her dog, Tasha, who grow together in their quest to save lives and find lost people in rugged, remote, and dangerous wilderness areas. The author does an excellent job explaining logistics of some of their missions as well as detailing the inner journey of a woman torn between her devotion to her marriage and her search-and-rescue career. I love the photos that are included in this debut memoir. Dog lovers who have never set foot in the mountains will still love the ups and downs of training a naughty puppy to follow commands and overcome extreme challenges.
While the author Susan, and her husband Doug live a lifestyle that many could envy (international work, life in the Rocky Mountains, adventure) there are gaps in the marriage that lead Susan to yearn for something new and different. She embarks on a quest to find herself through search-and-rescue work. Passages with actual rescue scenarios in extreme environments and details about dog training are my favorite parts of this debut memoir.
This honest review is based on an ARC from NetGalley.
February 15, 2020
This book was fascinating, but not for the reasons I would have anticipated. Reading the remembrances of someone who demonstrates such a low EQ and lack of self-awareness is interesting. Time after time she seems puzzled by her own search and rescue team's contempt for her as if never once realizing that they just plain can't stand her. I found myself siding with Doug in my frustration at her refusal to properly obedience train her dog or even keep her safe by leashing her when appropriate. I realize she is admitting her mistakes in retrospect, but as someone who works in dog rescue and deals with the consequences of this uneducated approach to dog handling, it was a little infuriating to read. She did Tasha a disservice over and over again and failed to listen to the people who were trying to teach her how to do better. She also trashes a lot of people in this book, some for behavior that she herself admits to engaging in as well (e.g., conducting searches for which they were not certified). Tasha, of course, is a rock star, so it's still a worthwhile read for dog lovers and anyone interested in SAR.
October 24, 2019
As a woman who spends a lot of time with her yellow Labrador, including hiking in the woods together, I had to read this book once I saw the cover in my local bookstore. I was interested to hear about how a dog and her handler become avalanche rescuers. This book did tell me this team’s story, and I liked listening to their training and missions and life together.
The cons: I wished for more information on the background: what makes dogs’ noses so spectacular? How did working canines get their start? This book was low on facts. And the “finding myself” part of this story is just silly. There’s no deep diving into her past to understand herself, just lots of dropped along the way about the fact that their marriage does not last. The reader, who has heard 25 paragraphs on Tasha the dog for every one sentence on Doug the husband, is not surprised.
The cons: I wished for more information on the background: what makes dogs’ noses so spectacular? How did working canines get their start? This book was low on facts. And the “finding myself” part of this story is just silly. There’s no deep diving into her past to understand herself, just lots of dropped along the way about the fact that their marriage does not last. The reader, who has heard 25 paragraphs on Tasha the dog for every one sentence on Doug the husband, is not surprised.
February 19, 2019
I enjoyed this book and the relationship between Sue and Tasha. The narration which I have found out is by the author herself took a while to get used to. Surprisingly the inflections and emphasis felt wrong to me at times and I was surprised to find it was narrated by the author.
The issues and related journey of self discovery took a long time and the book was like her relationship to Doug, some hefty denial along the way.
The processes of certification and educating Tasha were interesting and the rescue stories also fascinating.
The effort and cost involved in training Tasha were well described as were frustrations along the way.
The issues and related journey of self discovery took a long time and the book was like her relationship to Doug, some hefty denial along the way.
The processes of certification and educating Tasha were interesting and the rescue stories also fascinating.
The effort and cost involved in training Tasha were well described as were frustrations along the way.
April 8, 2018
Memoir documenting the training and missions of Susan Purvis and her search and rescue (SAR) dog, Tasha. Reads like a journal as Susan battles to balance her life, SAR passions, marriage, relationship with Tasha, SAR politics, etc...and do it all while trying to live up to her own expectations and those of everyone around her.
January 31, 2019
Frustrating read
Very frustrating read for anyone who is knowledgeable about dog psychology and training. Halfway through the book I decided I was tired of the author’s ignorant and repeated mistakes.
Very frustrating read for anyone who is knowledgeable about dog psychology and training. Halfway through the book I decided I was tired of the author’s ignorant and repeated mistakes.
June 25, 2018
What a great read! I was hooked from the first page until the last! I can't wait to read more by Susan Purvis
September 16, 2018
Loved this book! A deep, honest, soul-searching read, with moments of laughter and tears.
October 25, 2019
Another great read for armchair explorers like me that understand the quirky happenings with cohabiting life with a furry friend. While I understand that communication between a dog and it’s owner is very interesting and distinct, the relationship between Sue and Tasha is on a different level!
Search dogs and their owners trained by SARDOC standards must prepare extensively and very meticulously.
Training for live, dead and decomposing finds. Finds through distractions, snow, storms, and water. I was impressed by many factual tidbits sprinkled throughout the book about the sensitive olfactory abilities of dogs, and the insight to why avalanche’s are so fatal. I was put off by the descriptions of the resistance and inhibitory politics that Sue and other female dog trainers have to endure in a very ego driven culture that is search and rescue. It makes it seem that although God has given us these wonderful friends to make life sweet, and for companionship and life saving abilities, we waste our time with ego fencing during critical moments that mean life or death. I hope the future finds Dog Search Teams being called FIRST, and not last on a mission. All of the information on scent cones and how smells of victims migrate over hot and cool topography was pretty fascinating! I will never look at my pup the same, and am more curious about how he “sees” the world around him via scent.
Read this book If you liked Into Thin Air, like dogs, and like stories about women who go after their passions.
“All dogs do go to heaven right God? They must”, I said, as I finished the last page teary eyed.
Wonderful, sweet Tasha!
Search dogs and their owners trained by SARDOC standards must prepare extensively and very meticulously.
Training for live, dead and decomposing finds. Finds through distractions, snow, storms, and water. I was impressed by many factual tidbits sprinkled throughout the book about the sensitive olfactory abilities of dogs, and the insight to why avalanche’s are so fatal. I was put off by the descriptions of the resistance and inhibitory politics that Sue and other female dog trainers have to endure in a very ego driven culture that is search and rescue. It makes it seem that although God has given us these wonderful friends to make life sweet, and for companionship and life saving abilities, we waste our time with ego fencing during critical moments that mean life or death. I hope the future finds Dog Search Teams being called FIRST, and not last on a mission. All of the information on scent cones and how smells of victims migrate over hot and cool topography was pretty fascinating! I will never look at my pup the same, and am more curious about how he “sees” the world around him via scent.
Read this book If you liked Into Thin Air, like dogs, and like stories about women who go after their passions.
“All dogs do go to heaven right God? They must”, I said, as I finished the last page teary eyed.
Wonderful, sweet Tasha!
April 26, 2020
So many things to say about this book. First off, Nosework as a fun dog sport was not around yet, but having learned about odor, scent cones, the many, many factors that affect scent and a dog's ability to find it, what Tasha can do is amazing. I live in Colorado, but am not an avid outdoors person, hiking skiing, and other activities are not my choice, but I know how intense, fierce, dangerous and the general awe that wilderness of Colorado has. Just the physical endurance Sue and Tasha have to have is amazing. Finding scent is something a trained dog can do, but being the handler of a scent dog is intense, Tasha's sheer drive to keep going is amazing, and Sue's ability to read her dog as the years go by is something everyone that does a sport or job with their dog wants. TRUST YOUR DOG! I knew the training, the intensity of training, the gear and the magnitude of what it comes to do this is crazy expensive. These people do it for free a lot. What I didn't know was how much counties and local governments didn't have a clue back in the mid to late 90's and early 2000's of what a dog can do. Now I know things are different, dog teams are deployed more, dogs have become a trustworthy source. I had no idea the politics involved in SAR (but not surprising, everything has politics) but I admire Sue for sticking to it, for not giving up. Tasha was an amazing dog, Sue was able to make a career in other ways and help countless other ways to make SAR, wilderness medics, guides, etc. be better. As someone who loves to do stuff with her dogs, and just for fun, I admire her passion and dedication.
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July 20, 2018Susan Purvis’ debut memoir is an eye-opening look at what it means to surrender to a calling -- even when that calling means personal danger, hardship, and loss. This fast-paced and often pulse-pounding story pushes readers onto snow-covered mountains, under frigid waters, and straight into Purvis’ heart as she struggles to rescue the fallen and herself. It’s a multi-layered story of strength and weakness, survival and loss, risk and reward, but above all, love in its many human and canine forms. If you enjoy stories about adventure, dog training, forensics, and/or examples of fortitude, self-actualization, and courage, be prepared to forgo your routine until you finish reading GO FIND: MY JOURNEY TO FIND THE LOST—AND MYSELF.
December 19, 2018
What an incredibly amazing woman and an equally incredible dog. This is the kind of woman who makes the world a better place. Thank you for your service to others.
While I enjoyed learning about how this woman overcame obstacle after obstacle in training her rescue dog and the accounts of their missions, there were a lot of extraneous details I didn’t need to read about that made the book drag on. Things like the volume of the dog’s poop didn’t matter to me. A to-do was made about a virus, but nothing came of it. The book suffered from TMI.
Other than that, I learned a lot about a topic I knew nothing about and a woman who was tenacious in her defense and training of her dog and stood her ground. Good for her!
While I enjoyed learning about how this woman overcame obstacle after obstacle in training her rescue dog and the accounts of their missions, there were a lot of extraneous details I didn’t need to read about that made the book drag on. Things like the volume of the dog’s poop didn’t matter to me. A to-do was made about a virus, but nothing came of it. The book suffered from TMI.
Other than that, I learned a lot about a topic I knew nothing about and a woman who was tenacious in her defense and training of her dog and stood her ground. Good for her!
February 11, 2019
Fascinating story of what a handler goes through to teach her dog to do search and rescue. The hoops the handlers have to go through to get certified and the frustrations they go through because of lack of education from some of the law enforcement and search-and-rescue agencies they have to deal with was interesting. Petty politics exist even in this world, even when sometimes lives are at stake.
Overall, I found this book riveting. The stories of rescues were both heartbreaking and heartwarming, as was the narrative of the handler and her amazing dog Tasha, their relationship and bond. I HIGHLY recommend this book, even though I've been fighting a bittersweet book hangover ever since I finished it last night.
Overall, I found this book riveting. The stories of rescues were both heartbreaking and heartwarming, as was the narrative of the handler and her amazing dog Tasha, their relationship and bond. I HIGHLY recommend this book, even though I've been fighting a bittersweet book hangover ever since I finished it last night.
December 14, 2018
I very much enjoyed the adventure this book brings. The fact that a dog is involved just makes it even better. I live in Colorado, so the places the author worked at are very familiar to me. The journey to be certified as a SAR dog team was arduous but Purvis never gave up. The action scenes were well
written - edge of you seat type stuff! The love and bond between dog and human was endearing. The last chapter of the book was the most profound to me. I really liked the metaphor of being lost. Having just lost a dear dog, it was hard to read about the end of Tasha’s life, but the author did a good job relating it to her readers.
written - edge of you seat type stuff! The love and bond between dog and human was endearing. The last chapter of the book was the most profound to me. I really liked the metaphor of being lost. Having just lost a dear dog, it was hard to read about the end of Tasha’s life, but the author did a good job relating it to her readers.
December 16, 2018
Wonderful book!
This book is a great read! And Susan Purvis deserves all the accolades that she has received plus more! Susan did a SKYPE with our book club after we had read her book. She for us in between teaching a class on avalanche rescue. She really gave her heart and soul into training Tasha and the healing that this book did for her and the families of the victims that they recovered. I would definitely recommend this book to every one! And this book should be on a recommended list for book clubs! Everyone can find parallels in there own lives in certain situations of the book! Loved it! Linda Curtis
This book is a great read! And Susan Purvis deserves all the accolades that she has received plus more! Susan did a SKYPE with our book club after we had read her book. She for us in between teaching a class on avalanche rescue. She really gave her heart and soul into training Tasha and the healing that this book did for her and the families of the victims that they recovered. I would definitely recommend this book to every one! And this book should be on a recommended list for book clubs! Everyone can find parallels in there own lives in certain situations of the book! Loved it! Linda Curtis
December 26, 2019
This amazing book had many more insights into my own life than I expected. I don't think I could ever do what Sue Purvis did in terms of facing close to unbeatable odds to help find people who were literally lost in the wilderness. So many of her adventures with her dog Tasha were totally nail-biting, and their devotion to each other was incredible! But her own journey in terms of goals and relationships and what is most meaningful in life gave me a lot of perspective, both for past events as well as moving forward. You don't have to be interested in outdoor wilderness survival to get a lot out of this book.
November 24, 2018
Very educational in how dogs are utilized in search and rescue missions. As I continued to read, I became impressed with how much Sue and her dog, Tasha, had accomplished over the years starting from when Tasha was a mere puppy. Then, also impressive was how Sue continued her work by teaching others all over the world. Dog lovers will enjoy reading about the special bond between Sue and her dog, Tasha. I know I did. I thank the author, publisher, and Goodreads for the book. My opinions are my own. #goodreadsgiveaway
January 13, 2019
For any dog lover
This is a beautiful book, the biography of Tasha a search and rescue dog who worked over a decade in Colorado with her human friend Sue.
The book pinpoints the story of training and the findings, but it is mainly about being lost and finding.
Of course, the final “Tasha, go find” left me in tears.
I also learned a lot about avalanches and mountain life, about the way a dog can search with his/her nose and the way scents flow in air and how a dog can catch it. It is a fascinating book about hard work and love, friendship and comradeship.
This is a beautiful book, the biography of Tasha a search and rescue dog who worked over a decade in Colorado with her human friend Sue.
The book pinpoints the story of training and the findings, but it is mainly about being lost and finding.
Of course, the final “Tasha, go find” left me in tears.
I also learned a lot about avalanches and mountain life, about the way a dog can search with his/her nose and the way scents flow in air and how a dog can catch it. It is a fascinating book about hard work and love, friendship and comradeship.
February 11, 2019
I enjoyed this book. The author makes a very good effort at being authentic even when the results leave the reader questioning her maturity. Which is valid because the story starts at the beginning of her dog's life and ends at the end which covers a lot of years of "growing up" for both of them. I enjoyed the story for a number of reasons but the "teaching" aspect of rescue and canine rescue was very interesting. Susan's life is certainly worth writing a book about and she did a great job with it.
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