As someone who grew up with earthquakes as normal, and "the big one" inevitable, I'm very sensitive to the importance of being prepared for a natural disaster. [To learn what to do in response to a specific disaster check out 72hours.org]
Being prepared is important, and having professionally trained responders is critical. Wherever disasters strike, the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation (SDF) is there, offering professionally trained dogs to help firefighters and other first responders find people buried alive in the wreckage of disasters. There are currently 72 SDF-trained Search Teams located in California, Florida, Nebraska, New York, Oklahoma, Texas, and Utah.
To build its team of search dogs, SDF rescues unwanted dogs from shelters across the country who undergo six months of training to help advance obedience skills, disaster search skills and gain the confidence and trust they need by forming a special bond with their handler.
As a non-profit organization, with no government funding, SDF raises funds from individuals, foundations and companies to pay for the expensive training and FEMA certification for the teams. The National Disaster Search Dog Foundation produces the most highly trained canine disaster search teams in the nation. To support this heroic Foundation, The Nutro Company has pledged to sponsor the SDF, donating one million dollars to the Foundation through 2016.
Since 1998, The Nutro Company has supported National Disaster Search Dog Foundation (SDF) with Nutro NATURAL CHOICE dog food for all FEMA Certified canine disaster Search Teams. This larger donation demonstrates the company’s commitment to SDF and its mission. They offer the professionally trained canines and an ongoing program of support and advanced deployment training at no cost to their partner fire departments. And they ensure lifetime care for every dog in their program: once rescued, these dogs never need to be rescued again.
To learn more visit:
- National Disaster Search Dog Foundation Website
- National Disaster Search Dog Foundation on Facebook
- Follow @searchdogrescue on Twitter
This post was written by a Nutro Knowledge Network Member and sponsored by the Nutro Company.
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