Peace River K9 Search and Rescue supplements our Canine Unit's function by quickly multiplying efforts in the recovery of lost or missing persons. They have also assisted our agency in cadaver and forensic recovery. Their teams train with our agency's Canine and Aviation Units for a smooth response in times of need. Our close working relationship with their organization enhances our available search and rescue resources. -Sheriff Bill Prummell (Charlotte County, FL)
This group really shows the care and love a community deserves by the way of volunteers. They give up their safety, and their time (precious commodity) to aid in search amd rescue efforts in all facets.
I have known the founder of Peace River Search and Rescue, Michael Hadsell, for over 20 years. We share the same passion for canines and have always believed they ARE a vital part of our families. There is also a strong respect for law enforcement and a desire to help others in need, whenever possible.
I love all of the caring people and K9's that are part of this group who go above and beyond to help out anytime, anywhere.....they are truly hero's and will always have my support and admiration.
We were introduced to PRK9SAR during our extended visit to Florida earlier this year. My Labrador Retriever and I live and train in the Pacific Northwest in the area of Human Remains Detection and we were invited to train with PRK9SAR during our stay in Florida. To say that the amount of time and money these volunteer search and rescue handlers and technicians contribute is an inspiration, would be a gross understatement. Hopefully the citizens of Charlotte County and surrounding areas will never need their service, but they should sleep well at night knowing that these professionals can and will be ready to deploy at a moments notice to help those in need and bring their loved ones home again.
I've had the opportunity to actively train with the Peace River K9 SAR group this year, as we closely work with them when the situation arises.
This year, as well as years prior, we provided a helicopter (a 1964 UH-1H) for the group to practice insertions, extractions and land navigation etc.
I was fortunate enough to be crew chief on the flights, overseeing the safe loading and unloading of the groups with their dogs.
My experience with them is that they are a stand up group of volunteers with a professional mindset. We had absolutely no issues with them, and the situations that occurred on the ground were dealt with swiftly and with great efficiency by the group.
I was very impressed with the organization as a whole, and how they operate.
I look forward to many more years or training and cooperation with the Peace River K9 Search and Rescue Association.
Dan IJpkemeule
Air Support, CCSO
My horse Fritz and I started volunteering with PRSAR this year for the mounted SAR Team, and I am blown away by the training quality, leadership, time and commitment given, caring, and energy that this group has. Most of the team has dogs that they are training for specialized tasks, and they take this very seriously so that when there is a person to find, they'll be ready.
Very professional group of high-trained volunteers.
A pleasure to work with and always respond to our phone calls - glad to know this organization.
There is not enough time or space to give proper credit to this organization.
I am a retired Major and current cold case detective with the Charlotte County Sheriff's office.
I have worked with PRSR on many scenes. I am familiar with K-9 operations and can attest this group spends months training their K-9 partners and they are some of the best I have worked with. I have witnessed them work for days at scenes that are at times hazardous and very challenging and they do this without complaint or compensation. They not only search for dead bodies they also search for missing endangered people so they may bring peace to worried family members. I can think of no other organization that is more deserving of your financial assistance.
PRSAR is an outstanding organization and the people associated with it are absolutely the best! I am a Cold Case Detective and we have had to seek their assistance on many occasions when we receive information where the remains of someone might be located. PRSAR is always ready to assist in any way they can. We have spent countless hours with them in the field where they work tirelessly to do whatever they have to do to assist in resolving our investigations. From spending hours clearing brush, to providing off road vehicles to get us into areas that are too dense to walk through, to providing invaluable expertise in helping determine the most likely locations to search through their experience, and in providing a comprehensive and accurate finished report for our records, they are an amazing group of dedicated and professional volunteers. Their K-9s and their owners/handlers are exceptional and their work with our organization has always been top notch. This is a first class volunteer group and we are so lucky to have them in our community.
This is a great team. They are experienced and knowledgeable in every aspect of Search and Rescue. Great people who are totally dedicated to the missing and their families. Not only do they spend an enormous amount of time training and searching, they are always willing to share their knowledge and help others improve their skills.
Fantastic team! They are always training and trying to improve. Safety for their team and others is a priority. They invite other teams to train and work with them without expecting anything in return, except to go out and help others. My team mate and I came down from SC this past weekend to do water training with them because we don't have the opportunity to train with boats and open water very often.
When we needed someone to help us search for a missing fire fighter. we called and called and most agencies were only there to assist law enforcement. BUT when we got Peace River on the phone they were more than happy to assist us!
An amazing group of folks that are so helpful and happy to be there for you in your time of need. They need your assistance and i can guarantee they will use any money donated to further the search and rescue.
THANK YOU FOR BEING THERE FOR US! Amazing group!
As a Retired Law Enforcement Officer I have worked with thousands of people working in the Community. For the last two years I have had the great pleasure and honor to work with Peace River Search and Rescue. These volunteers work with their partners dogs, horses and drones, at their own expense. This group has offered and provided training for our HRD K9 dogs which has made us better than ever expected. We will always be grateful for their help and support. Thank you so much.
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Peace River Search and Rescue has been an asset in helping our K9 Teams to get up and running. At this point they have helped create new venues and training second to none. They keep raising the bar to make our Teams the best they can be. This can only be accomplished through thier hard work and knowledge in the Search and Rescue field. Thank you again Peace River Search and Rescue.
This group & their cause are amazing. They have heart, hope & the skills it takes to bring loved ones home. Although my time volunteering with this group was just under a year, it was easy to know right away how dedicated & organized they were from the training & deployments we had gone on. PRSAR is my first choice when donating to any non profit.
Peace River K9 Search and Rescue one of the most dedicated volunteer groups I have ever had the pleasure of knowing and being a part of. This entire group dedicates an insane amount of time outside of their own busy schedules to get up at the crack of dawn to train their dogs for hours, then go off to work a full day (or for the younger cadets, to school or other activities) just to be sure they are at the absolute best they can be. PRSAR is on call 24/7 and willing to get up at 3 am to rush out to a call out, no questions asked and no grumpy faces. They never ask for payments from the family and do this because they truly believe in the importance of this work and how vital it is to bring closure to a family in need.
I have been with this team for about 6 years, from high school through college and I can truly say that this isn’t just a team, it’s a family of loving individuals who want to make a difference in the world and help families and officers.
Peace River K9 Search and Rescue is an impressive association and has been great for my wife. Being team chaplain has opened up a new world for her and she often expresses gratitude for what she has learned and for the wonderful community she is part of. I have spent time with the team at social events and am equally impressed. This is a dynamic, highly-effective SAR team.
- Les Grigsby
I could not be more blessed to be part of an amazing team and organization.
Our goal is to train hard so we can be successful in helping families find their loved ones. Our team does not loose sight of that!
I am also super grateful that I have have an amazing K9 partner! Our relationship has grown leaps and bonds and we are a TEAM that truly trusts each other.
Peace River Search and Rescue stands apart from the rest!
It is with our deepest heartfelt appreciation that we extend to Peace River K9 Search and Rescue Inc. our never ending gratitude for your determination to help bring our son home.
My family would have never believed that we would ever find ourselves in this type of situation but we also cannot imagine how we would have gotten through it without your organization. The empathy that radiated from your group and the other volunteers was truly a gift to us that transcended our expectations.
Our wish for Peace River K9 Search and Rescue Inc. is that your team of volunteers continue to bring your special gifts of service to families like ours who did not know where to turn to when faced with what seemed like insurmountable obstacles of a loved one gone missing.
I was looking for a great volunteer opportunity to help others and I found it at Peace River Search and Rescue. The team consists of a great group of individuals, who selflessly give their time to train and search for individuals where ever they are needed. The team searches for lost or missing individuals at no charge. My German Shepard, Maxine, who was rescued from a shelter, and myself train nearly every Saturday throughout the year, along with all other team members to be the best at what we do. I love being part of the team and am so fortunate to work with such a talented group of individuals.
I came from a DMAT team- 15 yrs with them and 40 as a critical care tech. When my teammate told me to contact them I was hesitant thinking I’d probably be not good enough. They had just come back from a couple of sad searches, areas hit by hurricanes and instead of being stressed out they were welcoming and kind, the mission is everything. They work as a cohesive unit to bring home a loved one. It is this dedication and committed to which I aspire. We are graced by such caring and professional volunteers.
Having been in Emergency Services for approximately 20 years, I can attest that this group is one of the best around. Under the guidance and leadership of Michael Hadsell, I have received some of the best training and knowledge out there in Search and Rescue.
Each member of the team are all volunteers and dedicate hundreds of hours of their own time and money for searches, training and community functions. It takes a special person to volunteer and I am thankful and appreciate every one of my teammates.
In 2015 I moved from Germany to Florida and in April 2017 I got my first dog. Through a friend’s recommendation end of 2017, I learned more about Peace River K9 Search & Rescue and started volunteering in January of 2018. Already at the first meeting and open training for recruits, I realized the high level of dedication and commitment that was exhibited by the entire team.
I feel very lucky to be able to volunteer and most of all to be a part of this awesome team PRSAR – I love every minute and won`t stop to learn more and more to assist bring the lost and missing home. To help bring answers on “Where is my loved one” is why my dog and I get up early, travel and train in every weather and environmental situation.
PRSAR never charges for their services and is ready to respond 24 hours a day!
K9 Nelson & Nadja Hoffmann
As Interfaith Chaplain for this team I have witnessed their dedication, incredibly hard work and professionalism, as well as their compassion for the missing, for loved ones of the missing and for each other. Peace River K9 Search and Rescue makes the world a better place and also sets a high standard for all search and rescue teams.
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This is a magnificent group of deeply dedicated, skilled people. As their Interfaith Chaplain, I was welcomed with great warmth and a true sense of community. The dogs are highly trained, well-loved and excellent care is taken of them and of the horses. In searching for missing persons, Peace River K9 Search and Rescue is as hard-working as it's possible to be, and steps in to provide hope and support to loved ones of the missing no matter the risk to themselves. These hazards include extreme heat, poisonous snakes, alligators and dangerous neighborhoods. Their courage and selflessness in amazingly difficult conditions never ceases to impress me, and my respect for them is enormous.
This diverse group of volunteers provide “Search and Rescue” services to local, county, state and federal law enforcement, and private families 24 hours a day, every day. Free of charge.
They assist finding the lost and missing so “others may live”.
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Hello,
My name is Grace. Two years ago I was homeless living on the street in Punta Gorda FL. The Animal Welfare League of Charlotte County saved my life, and today I am returning the favor to those in need. I have become a certified K-9 Search Dog working with Peace River Search and Rescue to recover missing adults and children. Our group of dedicated professionals provides rescue services to local, state, federal law enforcement, military and private families. We are ready 24 hours a day, everyday. And, we do it free of charge.
"So others may live"
My goal is to eventually get a dog and have it trained in search and rescue, and volunteer my services to help find people who are hurt, lost, or missing. It's something very personal to me, because a very dear friend of mine went missing over a decade ago. When the local police, state police, and F.B.I gave up, a wonderful woman came to our aid. One whom was not getting paid, and didn't know Jeremy personally. A selfless act of kindness by a very kind hearted soul. Later I had gotten in contact with her, and she informed me about s.a.r, and all the people she had helped over the years. And encouraged me to volunteer as well, because she realized I knew on a very personal level how these families must feel. It made me a perfect candidate because I was able to relate and empathize with them. I have researched it, and spoken to her extensively because she has about 15 years under her belt working as a volunteer, with the dogs that she has trained over the years. And I was referred to her by a retired police detective, who is currently in charge of the cold case department. It's something that I feel very passionately about. And I'm doing it for all the right reasons. Not for money, or personal gain, but to help a family avoid what I've witnessed Jeremy's family endure. Nikohl Alex McKee I love you. Someday we will have the answers we have been seeking. Your strength and grace through all of this has truly been an inspiration to me. Love you ❤
What do I hear the most: This team is all volunteer? All of it? You drive all the way and spend all this time for free? Yep, we do this because we believe in what we do. We want to help others! For me this work is addicting and I love every minute, the sweat, the dirt, bugs, and the people on the team. I first started as a mounted SAR person with my horse. When I found out that the need for horses was not as much as the dogs, I asked if I could bring my rescue terrier dog. Mike said yes and he worked with us until we were able to get a certification. Now with Mike and the team's help I am training our new Malinois puppy for SAR. I feel very lucky to be able to volunteer and most of all to be a part of this awesome team PRSAR.
Peace River K9 Search and Rescue is a wonderful, local organization that provides a much needed service. These fearless volunteers donate hours of time developing skills needed to search and recover missing persons. They fearlessly and tirelessly support local law enforcement and families in need. PRSAR provides public education and awareness to the community in a variety of areas from abduction and suicide prevention to K9 training and skills. These volunteers are true heroes.
In 2015 I bought a Jeep Wrangler and found a local group of other Wrangler owners to hang out with. One time we got together and some people showed up with dogs. They explained that they did search and rescue work and needed folks with Jeeps to help out on some searches. They asked that anyone interested be willing to get training in at least basic search and rescue areas. Shortly after that my daughter got a puppy. A few weeks later we joined the team to help with a fundraiser and someone talked my daughter into turning her pup into a search dog. Fast forward several months and another team member had rescued a dog that needed someone who would be around a lot more than his work hours allowed. I took her in and shortly thereafter started training her, as well. I found something in PRSAR that I'd been missing since my days in the Marine Corps -- a camaraderie and esprit de corps, a devotion to duty and each other that cracked my shell a little. These people are as much my family as my wife and kids. And they brought Hope, my dog, into my life, and she makes an incredible difference for me. We've been a part of many searches now. I know that this team makes a difference to the community -- a community that seems to be growing from just Southwest Florida to include much of the state and even places out of state. We are self-funded for the most part. We don't ask for money to take part in searches, so each team member pays for their own gas when we travel to a site. It's worth it though. We've found people -- living and dead -- and brought closure to families that were hurting and carrying that big question -- where is my loved one? Bringing that closure is why I, and the rest of the team, gets up early to work with our dogs, goes out to train and work in all sorts of weather and environments. I love these people and the work they do and I'm very proud to be a part of it.
I am Arpad Vass. I have a Ph.D. in Forensic Anthropology and have spent the last 15 -20 years working on the hardest technical problem of my career – finding clandestine graves. I was on one of these cases in Louisiana when I met Cali and Nixie, and their human associates, Mike and Julie, from Peace River K9 Search and Rescue. This was yet another of those extremely difficult cases where we were looking for a homicide victim from 30+ years ago in a large search area next to the Mississippi river with constant flooding, yearly silt deposition, giant mosquitos, swampy soil and dense undergrowth. After driving all the way from Central Florida at their own expense, it took less than 2 days for Cali and Nixie to find the area of interest. Since then I have worked several cases with Peace River K9 Search and Rescue and find them to be the most experienced, well trained and dedicated organization I have ever had the pleasure to work with. What is most exceptional about their organization is that they are open to new ideas and techniques – they want to learn and constantly strive for improvement. They are 100% dedicated on behalf of the families who request their assistance (victims and their families always come first). They have spent an immense amount of their own time and resources pulling together the right team complete with grief counselors, technology experts, searchers, handlers and trainers – literally the best of the best. Law enforcement organizations could learn a lot from spending time with Peace River SAR. Considering that they voluntarily go out in the worse possible environments braving man-made, environmental, and natural hazards with their only motivation being one of finding someone who is lost, missing or the victim of a tragedy, I cannot imagine that there is a non-profit organization which is ‘greater’ than Peace River Search and Rescue.
Sincerely,
Dr. Arpad Vass
I have met these people and they have an amazing strength and energy. Their K 9 are well trained and very focused. We participated during a search in the summer and they organized all the spontaneous volunteers quickly and professionally and then went with them into the search. Truly an incredible group of dedicated and compassionate volunteers!
I visited the group one day last summer with my beloved friend Reverend Sarah, it was a training day, and I was amazed by the high level of organisation and the state-of-the-art techniques Peace River K9 employ in their work. Everyone was kind, compassionate and driven by their passion to fulfil their mission. The dogs were highly trained and they looked so seriously focused on their targets, better than me actually.
I have met persons of the Peace River K9 Search and Rescue Asso. Inc. They are very dedicated
people and work very hard in their endeavor to help the public and authorities when disaster
strikes whether large or small. The service these folks provide is impossible to measure in terms of value to those affected. Ask any Sheriff what help these trainers with their bright
dogs can accomplish . Also ask about the PRIDE carried by Peace River K9 members carry.
Wayne Sherwin, Bowie, Maryland
I started volunteering with Peace River K9 Search and Rescue in June of 2016. Very quickly I realized the high level of dedication and commitment that was exhibited by the entire team. Mike Hadsell, the founder, has been involved with K9 training most of his life and his ability to impart this knowledge to others is amazing. Our team goes on searches on a regular basis and not only do we focus on our mission but we also provide comfort and support for any family or friends that are present. I am very proud to be a part of Peace River Search and Rescue.
Mary Rachide