The Mission
When former school teacher Wilma Melville founded the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation in 1996, she had a vision: to recruit dogs from animal shelters and rescue groups, team them with firefighters, and train them to find people trapped in the wreckage of disasters. And she made a solemn promise: “Once rescued, these dogs will never need to be rescued again.”
Wilma’s vision has been realized. Almost fourteen later, the Search Dog Foundation (SDF) is a thriving non-profit with a clear mission: to strengthen disaster response in America, saving people and dogs in the process. Thus far, the organization has provided 69 highly-skilled Canine-Firefighter Search Teams to fire departments nation wide — at no cost to the public.
The teams are on-call 24/7 to respond to disasters. Whether there is an earthquake in California, a tornado in Oklahoma, a building collapse in New York, or a little girl lost in the woods, SDF’s teams make sure no one is left behind.
The SDF Bark Force
Many dogs being cared for in shelters have the high energy, intense play drive, strength, and tenacity that SDF looks for in a Search Dog. Often, dogs wind up in shelters because of these very traits, since most families are looking for more easy-going pets. “Type A” dogs need more than a cozy couch to lounge on…they need a job! SDF’s trainers harness their natural abilities and turn them into skilled rescuers.
To help meet the growing demand for Search Dogs, SDF created the Bark Force: trained volunteers who help locate canine candidates. There are now over 100 Bark Force volunteers throughout California and the Western States, including 55 Bay Area/Sacramento members.
Bark Force volunteers scour local shelters, breed rescues and the Internet in search of the extraordinary dogs suited to this line of work. Each candidate is evaluated for its energy, tenacity, and drive – qualities needed for disaster search work. If the evaluation goes well and x-rays reveal strong hips and shoulders, the dog begins training at Sundowners Kennels in Gilroy. For every 100 dogs identified as potential Search Dogs, only ten have what it takes to begin training.
After six to eight months of professional training, dogs are finally paired with their human partners. The two will work together for 12 to 18 months before becoming certified by FEMA — a pre-requisite for deployment.
Occasionally, a dog is accepted into the program but doesn’t complete training due to lack of drive or focus. Such dogs are placed with loving Lifetime Care families that see to the needs and enjoy the company of these very special dogs.
Bark Force Success Stories
Bella
Last September, SDF heard about a potential candidate at a Stockton animal shelter. SDF Handler Al Duncan of San Francisco’s Presidio Fire Department offered to test the dog and found that he didn’t have the necessary Search Dog attributes. But as Al he was putting the dog back in his kennel, he heard a “thump, thump, thump!” and turned around to see Bella, a small Black Lab, jumping up and down, her eyes fixed on the toy in Al’s pocket. He asked permission to test her, and throughout the evaluation Bella stayed completely focused on the toy, passing with ease.
Within a few days, Ms. Bella and was whisked off to SDF’s Prep Kennel for ten days of TLC and further evaluation before heading to Gilroy for training. After 8 months of professional training, Bella was partnered with Richard Smith of the Lakeside Fire Protection District in San Diego. The pair is together 24/7, preparing for the day they will be called upon to save lives.
Huck
In December of 2007, the East Bay SPCA called Julia Ford, who rescues dogs and trains them for drug and explosives detection. They thought she might be interested in an unruly Chocolate Labnamed Huckleberry Hound. Although she liked what she saw, the dog was too possessive of his toys to make it in that line of work.
Julia knew that the chances of a dog like Huck making it out of the shelter were slim, so she gave SDF a call. Toy possessiveness is acceptable behavior for search dogs, since they’re trained to search for “victims” during training whopossess the toy they crave. SDF Handler Al Duncan tested the dog, who passed with flying colors.
Soon Huckleberry was in training at Sundowners Kennels, his name shortened to “Huck” and his new career on track. In November of 2008 Huck was partnered with Brent Koeninger of Oklahoma City Fire, and the team is now training intensively to attain FEMA certification.
Nino
Nino is an energetic Fox Red Lab, and since starting on the path towards FEMA Certification, he has impressed everyone with his athleticism and drive.
Nino also finds absolute joy in barking — a powerful tool for a Search Dog.
Picked up as a stray in Roseville, Nino was brought to the Placer County SPCA in August of 2006. He lived there until October, when Bark Force member Jessica Huggins, on the hunt for potential Search Dogs, recognized his talent and called SDF. Sacramento firefighter and SDF handler Shani Richeson volunteered to test the dog, and he passed with flying colors.
Nino went into training, learning how to climb over unstable and uneven surfaces, distinguish a live “victim” scent from other scents (including all other animals), and signal with a “bark alert” when he found a buried “victim.”
Nino was paired with Marin County Fire Captain Jim Boggeri in the summer of 2008. Jim has another Search Dog, Recon, who after seven years of service and deployment to several disasters, including Hurricanes Katrina and Gustav and a Mill Valley mudslide, is reaching retirement age. Jim says he has yet to find Nino’s “off switch” and knows that he’ll be a star Search Dog.
With Recon and Nino, Jim is living his life’s dream and wants to inspire others to follow along this same path. His advice to would-be SDF handlers: “Understand the nature of the job and the commitment needed. Enjoy the successes, understanding that the highs and lows are extremes that will test your limits.”
“I would like my legacy to be my commitment to fire service,” he continues, “and my respect and allegiance to my canine partner and the Search Dog Foundation.”
How You Can Help
- As a non-profit with no gov-ernment funding, SDF’s work of rescuing dogs and saving lives is made possible by the contributions of individuals and private foundations. You can become part of the search by:
- Making a donation;
- Joining the Bark Force; and /or
- Providing a loving Lifetime Care home.
If you’re interested in becoming a Bark Force member, contact Karen Klingberg at (888) 459-4376 x114 or Karen@ndsdf.org. To learn more, visit www.SearchDogFoundation.org. Karen Klingberg manages SDF’s Bark Force, a group of 150 canine recruiters who visit shelters throughout the Western States looking for dogs with “just the right stuff” to become Search Dogs. With seven dogs of her own, Karen is the ultimate canine advocate.
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