Certifications

Handler and K-9 teams certify to nationally-recognized industry standards that are most relevant for the specific discipline(s).

For example:

Illinois Search Dogs Inc. is a not-for-profit, volunteer organization established in July, 2003.  Illinois Search Dogs of McLean County Emergency Management Agency was established in August, 2011 to support the operations functions of K9 teams. 

Illinois Search Dogs supports K9 handlers that share a mutual mission and passion to train and certify highly motivated Handler/K-9 teams for the purpose of assisting in the location of lost, buried, or drowned victims during emergencies, including natural and man made disasters. ISD supports the training of handlers and K-9s in multiple disciplines to respond to a variety of public safety and service needs. For example, K9 teams are trained for a variety of emergency response needs, including wilderness area search, water recovery, land cadaver, and scent discrimination trailing.  K9 teams are members of McLean County Emergency Management Agency (EMA).  As part of McLean County EMA, the K9 teams support an extensive menu of core emergency response services to include:

  • Search and Rescue including both ground search teams  & nationally certified K9 teams (including K9s for land/ water cadaver, trailing, & area search), above-water recovery, search management & search planning
  • Managed Incident Communications
  • Mass Casualty Incident Support
  • Severe Storm  Operations
  • Damage Assessment
  • Winter Weather Operations
  • Supplemental Lighting and Power

This comprehensive search and rescue service responds to direct requests and mutual aid requests throughout Illinois and out of state via EMAC.  Requesting agencies retain the privilege of identifying specific search and rescue capabilities and resources needed for deployment.