WHO ARE WE?

ISRCH is a national group of independent SAR K9 Handlers - Canine Response Teams (CRT) - as well as Field Support Personnel who desire to further the effectiveness of Search and Rescue efforts in each member's community and state.

ISRCH is an all-volunteer, non-profit organization, serving fire, rescue, emergency management, and law enforcement agencies with Canine Response Teams (CRT) located throughout the United States. As a public service, we provide highly trained and experienced dog and handler teams to search, locate and assist with the rescue or recovery of lost, missing or incapacitated persons upon the request of any official agency. We are prepared to respond, day or night, under any and all conditions and terrain where dogs can safely and effectively operate. We also provide SAR training for members and preventative search and rescue programs for schools and civic groups.

WHAT DO WE DO?

By connecting handlers through the nation, ISRCH strives to create a network of professional, capable dog teams that are readily available when the need arises.

The members of ISRCH operate under common guidelines that meet national standards. ISRCH members travel nationwide to train together and provide education and outreach within their communities and throughout their states. One of our objectives is to encourage networking and foster a spirit of cooperation and mutual aid between our Canine Response Teams and Support Members and government agencies (local, state and national) as well as other Search and Rescue teams and organizations.

WHY ARE WE NEEDED?

Professionally trained volunteers are a critical resource for the search and rescue of lost and missing persons in the United States. Law enforcement and emergency management personnel, particularly at the local level, simply do not have the resources to conduct a search alone. And while they provide the critical command and coordinating functions during a search, they would not be able to put enough search teams in the field, or traverse much of the difficult terrain, without specially trained volunteers. Moreover, much of their efforts must now be devoted to homeland security, hazardous materials and disaster response.

There are thousands of lost and missing persons incidents reported every year in the US. These include lost and abducted children, missing outdoor enthusiasts, despondents, Alzheimer patients, boaters, downed aircraft and others.

By some reports in America there are more than 30,000 wandering Alzheimer patients reported missing from their homes or care facilities annually. Only a very few return on their own. Almost half of these vulnerable wanderers may die if not found within the first 24 hours. Many more die in forests and wooded areas.

ISRCH provides critically needed K9 resources for Federal and state law enforcement and emergency managers. ISRCH members work to promote cooperation and coordination with other responding agencies.