It's a Dog's Life: Canines Pitch In During Rita Recovery
Jim Kouri, CPP
September 25, 2005
No sooner had many canine search and rescued dogs trained by National Disaster Search Dog Foundation (NDSDF) returned home with their handlers from the Hurricane Katrina deployment, than they were once again called out by their task forces in response to the nationally significant Hurricane Rita, the third most intense hurricane recorded, making landfall along the Gulf Coast between Texas and Louisiana.
Of the 26 NDSDF-trained canines deployed during Hurricane Katrina, 17 canines along with their human partners are located in various parts of Texas, as part of several of the 17 FEMA Task Forces deployed and in position for rescue efforts in the hurricane's aftermath.
NDSDF continues to provide more canine search teams than any other organization in nation to respond to any man-made or natural disaster whether of national, regional or local significance. To date, NDSDF is responsible for training 25% of the nationally advanced certified canines in the United States.
While advanced evacuation efforts seem successful in lessening the chances of loss of life, concern exists for those individuals who for various reasons may have remained behind in dangerous conditions. These canine search teams remain a key component of the team's rescue response -- as these highly trained dogs are able to "clear" each area to make sure no one has been left alive in the debris.
Their remarkable sense of smell and unparalleled ability to safely navigate dangerous terrain, faster and more safely than any other "tool" in the first responder's toolbox, make search dogs an invaluable asset to the rescue efforts.
National Disaster Search Dog Foundation is a nonprofit organization whose mission to produce the most highly trained canine disaster search teams in the nation. The Foundation is responsible for training over 25% of all of the Advanced FEMA canine search teams in the United States and provided 33% of the teams deployed on September 11, 2001 to the World Trade Center.
Of the 26 NDSDF-trained canines deployed during Hurricane Katrina, 17 canines along with their human partners are located in various parts of Texas, as part of several of the 17 FEMA Task Forces deployed and in position for rescue efforts in the hurricane's aftermath.
NDSDF continues to provide more canine search teams than any other organization in nation to respond to any man-made or natural disaster whether of national, regional or local significance. To date, NDSDF is responsible for training 25% of the nationally advanced certified canines in the United States.
While advanced evacuation efforts seem successful in lessening the chances of loss of life, concern exists for those individuals who for various reasons may have remained behind in dangerous conditions. These canine search teams remain a key component of the team's rescue response -- as these highly trained dogs are able to "clear" each area to make sure no one has been left alive in the debris.
Their remarkable sense of smell and unparalleled ability to safely navigate dangerous terrain, faster and more safely than any other "tool" in the first responder's toolbox, make search dogs an invaluable asset to the rescue efforts.
National Disaster Search Dog Foundation is a nonprofit organization whose mission to produce the most highly trained canine disaster search teams in the nation. The Foundation is responsible for training over 25% of all of the Advanced FEMA canine search teams in the United States and provided 33% of the teams deployed on September 11, 2001 to the World Trade Center.
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