Madi Nemec

Madi Nemec – Dog Handler VRA Rescue NSW Search Dogs 

Animals have been a lifelong passion for me growing up on a hobby farm, where my parents rarely said no to any reasonable request for a new pet from guinea pigs, to puppies of questionable breeding, to hand raising goats, plus riding and competing horses in multiple disciplines. 

As an adult, I still surround my self with many animals including a flock of ducks, 7 dogs, 4 cats, tropical fish, guinea pigs, chickens, 10 freeloading horses and a donkey. My love for competing horses moved (as I gained a sense of self preservation) to competing and training dogs in dog sports. 

Along with my love for animals I also love helping people and forming connections in my community, which led me to volunteering with emergency services whenever I had time.  

When my good friend Justine told me VRA were looking for dog handlers to train dogs in water search, I jumped at the opportunity to combine my love for dog training and helping people. I threw myself all in, qualifying my Australian Koolie Alice in mid-2024. The learning curve has been steep, but I am loving every minute of it!