Supporting the Rescue Mission of the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation
The National Disaster Search Dog Foundation (SDF) trains rescued dogs to rescue people. Community involvement is an important aspect of Arc Aspicio’s company culture. To incorporate our love for dogs and passion for making an impact on the homeland security mission, the company proudly supports the SDF and has since 2006.
For the past 19 years, the SDF has supported disaster search and rescue efforts by partnering rescued dogs with local firefighters and other first responders to find victims trapped under disaster-caused debris and wreckage. With a remarkable sense of smell, hearing, and ability to maneuver through rubble, dogs are valuable resources for search and rescue teams to quickly locate buried victims. During her first deployment with canine partner Murphy, SDF Founder Wilma Melville experienced firsthand the great need for building a cadre of certified canine search teams for these critical life-saving efforts.
According to their website, “SDF canine disaster search teams have been deployed to more than 80 emergencies and disasters, including the 9/11 World Trade Center attack, Hurricane Katrina, the Haiti earthquake, the Japan earthquake and tsunami, and tornadoes in Joplin, Missouri and Oklahoma City”. Determined not to leave any survivors behind, these teams searched the rubble along with first responders, resulting in the successful rescue of 12 people in the Haiti earthquake.
Throughout the years, Arc Aspicio has sponsored search dog teams and has also provided pro bono consulting to help the organization explore and adopt new technology. The company has just sponsored its third search dog team and anxiously awaits the announcement of the lucky pair.
Established mutual agreements between DHS, FEMA, state, and local jurisdictions enable SDF to deploy canine search teams to support disaster-stricken communities nationwide. Along with providing professionally trained dogs to search and rescue teams, SDF provides comprehensive and on-going training programs free of charge to fire departments.
With strict criteria for becoming a SDF search dog and a comprehensive training program, the SDF relies on donations to continue their great work in preparing competent search teams for dangerous deployments.
Arc Aspicio holds regular functions to help raise funds and awareness for the organization. We highly encourage you to learn more about SDF and to consider donating or helping in other ways to support their mission in protecting lives and responding to any disaster at a moment’s notice! Please contact us at info@arcaspicio.com with any questions about supporting the SDF.
