Some people save dogs. These dogs save people

Published on November 29, 2024

Any time there’s a natural disaster, inevitably you’ll see teams of search-and-rescue dogs who, along with their handlers, perform the grim task of looking for victims.

It’s a job that only the most elite canines can perform – about one dog in every thousand – so it’s no surprise that there’s a significant shortage of these valuable animals. In fact, there are only 180 handler-dog teams across the entire United States. The gap between need and availability is due to a lack of trainers and training facilities, as well as the high levels of funding and time required to properly train and care for the animals.