Jun 02 2008
The National Disaster Search Dog Foundation
I’m always excited to learn about new organzations that work tirelessly behind the scenes to do good things. So when I recently saw an ad for the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation (SM), I felt compelled to go to their website immediately and learn everything I could about the group.
The mission of the Search Dog Foundation (SDF) is to produce the most highly-trained canine disaster search teams in the nation. The job of these teams is to find people buried alive in the wreckage of natural disasters and terrorist attacks. In 2005, 26 SDF teams were sent to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita to assist with rescue efforts.
To create these teams, SDF recruits rescued dogs from shelters and breed rescue groups, gives them professional training, and partners them with firefighters and other first responders at no cost to their departments.
SDF receives no government funding, and relies solely on their supporters throughout the country to provide these services (they are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, tax ID number 77-0412509).
9/11
On September 11, 2001, a call was sent out nationwide by the Federal Government for the most highly-trained canine search teams to help at the World Trade Center disaster site. SDF responded, providing 13 teams—a third of the FEMA advanced-certified canine search teams deployed at Ground Zero.
During the efforts, there were reports of non-SDF dogs being injured (some had burned or cut paws). Yet, not one of the Foundation’s FEMA Certified dogs was injured, because of the SDF dogs’ arduous, ongoing field training.
SDF dogs could withstand the irregular, shifting surface of the rubble pile because they work weekly on rubble, all year round, which prepares their paws for rough conditions. Plus, the dogs and handlers knew how to avoid dangerous spots, because they’d done it all in training.
Top Training
SDF produces the most highly trained DHS/FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) Advanced Certified canine disaster search teams in the nation. Using Advanced Certification by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)/FEMA as a starting point, SDF-trained Canine Search Teams go well beyond this skill level.
SDF’s extensive pre-screening of canine candidates and rigorous training is a winning combination. Prior to SDF’s innovations, only about 15% of the dogs in America training to be disaster search dogs reached DHS/FEMA Advanced Certification. Of the dogs in SDF’s program, 85% achieve Advanced Certification.
Funding Assistance
It costs SDF $10,000 to produce one SDF canine-firefighter search team. This includes the recruitment and training of each canine and firefighter. Once the teams are partnered, it costs up to $20,000 more for the ongoing training to reach Certification and maintain deployment readiness for the next ten years (the average working life of a search dog). As a non-profit with no government funding, SDF raises funds from individuals, foundations and companies to underwrite the cost. To donate, click here.
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