"My dog can find me in my backyard. I'm sure he'd make a good search dog."
"I'd love to work with my dog at a disaster."
"I want to be in search and rescue but I work on Saturdays."
"I'm looking for something to do in my spare time."
"I want to breed my dog, a search and rescue dog will bring him/her more interest for breeders."

Search and rescue (SAR) looks like it would be an awesome "hobby," but there is so much more to becoming a SAR volunteer. First, the time commitment is very high. This is not a hobby- it is more like a second full-time, nonpaying job. Nearly every weekend is a training, PR, or classroom day. Additional training sessions are held for night search trainees. Classroom work is a very important aspect of SAR training. We never stop learning or training. Basically, your commitment to SAR is not for a year or two. Plan on a long-term commitment. If you already have many commitments, SAR may not be for you.

If you plan to become a dog handler, before you can begin training your dog, you will be trained and certified as a SARTECH II through the National Association for Search and Rescue. If your plan is to become a flanker (footsearcher), your formal training will be complete when you achieve your SARTECH II certification. However, you will still be expected to attend training sessions to help your teammates. Also, when you submit your application for membership, you will need to attach certificates of completion of FEMA 100 and 700 courses (available on-line free of charge), as well as CPR and First Aid.

To become an operational canine team, you and your dog will be tested for wilderness search skills, evaluating in a 20-acre day, 40-acre night, and 160-acre day multi-victim test. Completing SAR training is time-intensive, usually takes 1 to 2 years depending upon the age of the dog when starting, how often you train, and how quickly you and your dog learn. After attaining operational status in wilderness, specialty- training areas can be achieved in disaster and human remains detection (water and/or land).

SAR is costly. The equipment for you and your dog may run into thousands of dollars, with most of the costs incurred up front with the purchase of necessary SARTECH II equipment. You are responsible for outfitting yourself and your canine. In addition, there are many training sites in and around the state. You will be doing a lot of driving, both to trainings and testing sites.

We strive for teamwork. At trainings, you will be working with your dog but also you will be helping each other. You will be asked to go out and hide or "flank" for another dog-handler team. You will train in mud, high grass, ticks, cold, snow, darkness, wind, drizzle, and heat. In the warmer months, training will start very early in the morning. In the colder months, you will be out in below freezing temperatures. You will train in the dark. During trainings and callouts, you will wear a 25+-pound backpack along with your other safety equipment (helmet, compass, etc.). Classroom work, although not as fun as working with your dog, is a very important aspect of SAR training. We never stop learning or training.

If you have a supportive spouse and family, this commitment becomes somewhat easier. It takes an understanding family to do without your presence at a significant function because you are gone for an important evaluation, training, or callout. SAR will take up much of your "spare" time.

Not every dog does well in SAR. Even though your dog can find you in your house, your dog will be expected to find a stranger in a deeply wooded area or tornado-damaged pile of rubble. Training your dog with enthusiasm and patience is what it takes to help your dog become SAR certified.

We do not take dogs older than three years old. By the time the three-year-old dog becomes certified in 2 years or so, half of its active life is over and most often, the older dog will need to restrict its activity due to arthritis or lack of mobility.

We recommend each dog be spayed or neutered. If you want to breed your dog, we ask you to make a decision between breeding and SAR. A female in heat is not permitted at training or at a callout. We need each dog focusing on the mission at hand. A person's life may depend on your dog being at peak performance, both mentally and physically.

Often, "life happens" to a SAR worker. We expect our members to tell us whenever situations cause them to step away from our training schedule. However, if a member does not attend training on a regular basis and misses significant training sessions, they will be asked to leave the team. SAR can be frustrating, as well, especially when you don’t see progress being made with your dog or getting the evaluations scheduled when it’s convenient for you.

People in need are rarely missing during good weather, during the day, or when you're free to help. Often, the callout is hundreds of miles away. Rarely are there thanks or notoriety for your work. Of course, there is a certain pride in doing a job well, but if you crave the limelight and notoriety, SAR is not for you. We get to a scene, do our work, and quietly go home. You must be victim-oriented, focused on the search, and helpful to your teammates. Egos have no place in SAR. If you don't fit into all of these categories, you need to re-think SAR. However, if you have what it takes, it will be the most worthwhile, satisfying volunteer work you can do for your community. We hope you will do some serious thinking about SAR. Maybe you're the person for whom we're looking. We love to say: Found You!!

KSARDA is currently taking applications for flankers, K-9 handlers, and other specialties. Even if you're just interested in helping us train, let us know! For more information please contact info@ksarda.org.

For More Information About KSARDA, Please Contact: info@ksarda.org

Vicki Walton, Deputy Director Southern Region	Annette Gaston, Director	Russell Pugh, Deputy Director  Northern Region
E-Mail:  vrwalton@gmail.com	E-Mail:  bngsar@earthlink.net	E-Mail:  rpughfarm@yahoo.com
Home:  316-788-2054	Home:  913-592-2985	Home:  785-986-6715
Cell:  316-210-9520	Cell:  913-484-9291	Cell:  785-408-9889

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