Idaho Disaster Dogs

Idaho Disaster Dogs, Inc. is a non-profit, 501(c)3, volunteer organization that provides certified canine search teams to the State of Idaho Collapse Search and Rescue Task Force. Our mission is:
• To provide trained dogs, handlers and support personnel for the search and rescue of live persons lost or trapped due to manmade or natural disasters
• To provide trained dogs, handlers and support personnel for the search and recovery of deceased persons lost, trapped or drowned, including fire victim recovery
• To provide our services to government agencies on a 24-hour basis at no cost, as a benefit to the public
• To provide training and education for its dogs and personnel to develop and improve those capabilities that will ensure competent and capable search teams and operations

Description:
Idaho Disaster Dogs currently rosters 7 canine handlers and 3 support personnel. The team has 8 dogs currently enrolled in the program. 4 of the canines are training in human remains recovery and 4 are training in live victim detection. Other disciplines that are trained are water search, avalanche and wilderness. Handlers must complete extensive training in Incident Command Systems, Collapse Search and Rescue, Water Search and Rescue and Rope Rescue. The canine teams train twice a week regardless of weather. Handlers and canines must be physically fit as training can be demanding. The role of volunteers that are not handlers is that of hiding for the dogs. Volunteers that hide for the dogs receive training on how to work with the dogs, terminology and use of the props. The physical skills are developed in order to be an effective hider. The volunteer hiders are the most important aspect of training search dogs.

History:
Idaho Disaster Dogs was started by two city of Coeur d'Alene Firefighters as an organization that specifically trains dogs for search and recovery operations. The team provides the search dogs for the three Collapse Search and Rescue Task Forces in Idaho. Over the past couple of years our team has been asked to support operations for the Urban Search and Rescue team in eastern Washington as well as participate in the FEMA Urban Search and Rescue system through their Task Force based in Seattle. Our canines have done numerous searches locally, supporting law enforcement agencies and fire departments.

Contact people:

Jeff Sells, Program Coordinator, (phone), (email) Dave Tysdal, Program Specialist, (phone), (email)

Office fax number: (208) 769-2343

Address:

300 E Foster Ave Coeur D'Alene, ID 83814 (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.cdaid.org

Directions:

I-90 to the 4th St. Exit, turn South, street divides in to 3rd St. going South. Building is located at 3rd St and Foster

Last updated on September 12, 2009