The National Disaster Search Dog Foundation (NDSDF) trains disaster search and rescue dogs with a focus on locating live victims in collapsed buildings. At the present time, there are less than 50 search dogs nationwide.

FEMA-certified canine search teams helped with the aftermath of the September 11 World Trade Center terrorism attack, walking through rubble and searching for survivors.

Both dogs and handlers receive rigorous training to respond to a disaster and search. Disaster search dogs are trained specifically to locate live human scent, negotiate massive rubble piles, walk on unstable or uneven surfaces, climb up and down ladders, crawl into small openings and through dark tunnels, all in response to verbal or nonverbal commands.

To learn more about this local program, visit the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation web site, or contact (888)-646-1242 or (805) 646-1015, or rescue@ndsdf.org.