Not a lot of rescuers would be as happy as Ember Rose McClure to receive a behemoth bone for helping their community.

The 2-year-old yellow lab savored her bony bounty, which was presented during a ceremony in Vandenberg Village on Wednesday alongside her human helpers, who received people-appropriate honors for locating a lost senior citizen a week ago.

Sheriff Bill Brown recognized Adam McClure, his 11-year-old son, Aidan, and their dog, Ember Rose, along with first responders for saving the life of a man who wandered away from home and spent hours in the chaparral behind Cabrillo High School.

The wife of Kevin Moore, 77, alerted authorities the morning of Feb. 6 that her husband, a retired Santa Barbara city firefighter, had gone missing from their Vandenberg Village home, last having been seen at home the night before.

“We believe that Adam and Aidan’s actions were not only selfless but that they were in all probability lifesaving, and for that the Moore family and everyone in our community are deeply thankful to you,” Brown said.

Sheriff’s deputies plus county firefighters from nearby Station 34 along with Santa Barbara County Search and Rescue personnel began searching around Vandenberg Village and Mission Hills for the man considered at risk. An Air Support Unit helicopter delayed initially because of weather searched from above as an American Medical Response ambulance crew stood ready to help.

Alerts were sent to law enforcement agencies with notices placed on social media urging people to keep an eye out for the missing man.

“As the day progressed, searchers became exceedingly desperate to find Mr. Moore as the temperatures in the area began to drop with the approaching evening,” Brown said. 

At approximately 4 p.m., authorities sent a message to residents in the area to say Moore remained missing.

That prompted Adam McClure and his son to join search efforts.

“The McClure family spends a considerable amount of time hiking and exploring the network of trails running through chaparral surrounding the village,” Brown said, adding that the trio went to the trailhead for the Burton Mesa Ecological Reserve by their home.

Less than an hour later and with Ember in the lead, she went around a corner and out of sight before Adam McClure heard a man saying, “Oh, you’re a good one,” according to Brown. “He came around the corner to find Ember Rose licking Mr. Moore’s face.”

Moore had fallen down a steep embankment and landed in a ditch adjacent to the trail. In addition to suffering from exposure to the elements, he broke his hip.

McClure called 911 while Aidan backtracked to the trailhead to await the arrival of first responders and lead them to the injured man.

“Had Adam, Aidan and their trusty Ember Rose not taken it upon themselves to search for Mr. Moore, it is likely that the outcome would not have been nearly so positive,” Brown said. “That evening was colder than the previous evening, and it rained several times throughout the night and early into the next morning.”

The humans received Exceptional Civilian Award plaques for the agency’s highest civilian honor recognizing their efforts, with Ember getting a certificate of recognition plus the title of honorary search and rescue canine, Brown said. 

Local businessman Don Pommerville said he was moved to act. He received donations for the trio, including a bag of treats with a huge bone and a toy for Ember Rose. He also gave the boy a $150 gift card for a sporting goods store while the father got gift certificates to local restaurants plus a $150 gift card for fuel.

Pommerville, who had searched another area of the village, said he got chills when he learned of the trio’s successful efforts.

“As a business owner in this town, I just couldn’t let this thing pass,” Pommerville said. 

For the ceremony, Moore’s wife, Lynda, and son Sean Moore, a Seattle Police Department lieutenant, stood near the group of first responders. Another son, Thomas, missed the event to stay with Kevin Moore, who is recovering in the hospital.

After the ceremony, Lynda Moore hugged Deputy Garrett Weinreich, the first to arrive at her home after she reported her husband missing. Days later, she remembered his kindness.

She also expressed appreciation to the large number of personnel involved in the search to find her husband.

“I wish I could find a deeper thank you, but from the bottom of my heart thank you to everybody because you really did save his life. I am convinced he would have never made it another night,” Moore said.