My Nonprofit Reviews

I have watched this Foundation grow from its inception in 1996 to the present. I have now been a proud volunteer since 2014. Its mission is to strengthen disaster response by rescuing and recruiting dogs and partnering them with firefighters to find people buried alive in disasters, such as earthquakes, floods, landslides, etc. Once a dog is rescued from a shelter, it will never go back even if it doesn’t work out in the program. A lifetime care home will be found for each dog that doesn’t make the program. I have one of those lifetime care dogs. I witness the training and love given to each dog rescued and get to watch as each dog is paired with a handler. All these dogs become FEMA trained dogs and are ready in an instant if a disaster happens. These highly trained dogs are vital in searching as they can get into places where humans can’t, and they can alert when they find someone. The Search Dog Foundation follows up on each and every dog that comes to its campus. This Foundation was the vision of one lady, Wilma Melville, who saw the need for search dogs when she went with her own dog to the Oklahoma City bombing. What an accomplishment for her to see what she envisioned come to fruition. This is a very worthwhile and awesome Foundation.

I have been aware of the National DisasterSearch Dog Foundation since it was founded in 1996. They rescue dogs from shelters and train them to be disaster Search Dogs. I volunteer for this Foundation, and I have met the trainers and many of the handlers and the dogs. Teams have been deployed to 9/11, Haiti, Hurricane Katrina, Nepal, Japan, just to name a few. I can’t express enough how important this Foundation is to everyone. The dogs can search places that are hard for humans to get to. If I were in a disaster and wasn’t found right away, I would certainly be happy to have a dog find me! The dogs who are in training are some of the happiest dogs I’ve seen. They are well cared for while in training, and then they are paired with a fireman and they become a team and become FEMA certified. Such a worthwhile organization!

I first met Wima Melville, the founder of this Foundation, in 1996. I have followed the Search Dogs since then, and am lucky enough to finally be retired and able to be a volunteer for them. I see firsthand the dedication of all those involved in Search Dogs. Every donor is very much appreciated, no matter what amount is being donated. These Search Dogs provide such a valuable service anytime there is a major disaster. I have watched a little of their training, and these dogs are so well trained and ready to face any disaster they are sent to. This is a very worthwhile non-profit organization.