Is it weird to volunteer without a dog?

[u/luckysbananas]

Hi everyone,

I hope this is okay to ask. I’m in college and have been interested in SAR K9 teams since I was a kid. I’m not in a place to join right now because of the time and cost, but I’m hoping to in a few years.

Are there any ways I could volunteer with my local group in the meantime? I’m a photography student and happy to offer free photos of training sessions or events anytime.

For what it’s worth, I do have a Boston Terrier, but she’s more of a couch potato than a SAR dog. She actually just farted while I was typing this lol

[u/_jubal_]

Most SAR does not involve dogs. You can be very helpful without one.

[u/clonked]

The answer to that is going to unique to your local SAR group, but realistically unless you volunteer something other than your camera they will politely decline your request. Assuming you are physically able, you could volunteer for ground searches or whatever they need and because of your age probably be accepted prettily easy.

[u/luckysbananas → u/clonked]

Thank you for the info!! I reached out to them and just waiting to hear back

[u/Extension-Mall-7292]

Not at all, most teams I've encountered need people for all kinds of stuff not just a dog handler. My team utilizes one sometimes two flankers for a handler and their dog.

[u/luckysbananas → u/Extension-Mall-7292]

this sounds awesome!! I’ve gathered from other comments I might just be sitting in the woods for hours to start lol but that’s okay with me.

[u/Extension-Mall-7292 → u/luckysbananas]

There is a lot of waiting, yes. You'll probably be doing various grid searches without or without a k9.

[u/Colourful_Q2]

Our K9 team are always looking for volunteers for training--dogs need to practice finding people! Do get in touch with your local team and ask!

[u/teakettle87]

I cannot imagine every SAR volunteer has a dog.

[u/Adventurous-Ice231]

Not weird at all. Everyone starts somewhere, and it's usually required to be a general member before trying to also do the K9 part but that's all team/area dependent.

Otherwise with just K9 teams we can always use 'flankers' or folks who follow along and help out the handler with radio comms, gps waypoints, navigation, etc.

[u/Available-Leg-1421]

We have a SAR team of 100 people and our K9 team has 7 people with trained certified dogs. That team also has flankers.

Having a K9 is not at all a requirement for joining SAR. You can even be on the K9 team and not have a dog.

[u/Doc_Hank]

Most SAR volunteers don't have sar dogs. Even Dog Handlers need people to be targets, etc. So no, it's not weird at all.

[u/[deleted]]

You really need to contact your local SAR team, because it will depend on them. Some are desperate for help, others are very selective. Our local SAR team is one of the most active in the country, they only recruit new volunteers once every few years, and they take about a dozen recruits out of hundreds of applications. It's easier to get into Harvard than to volunteer for this SAR team...

[u/TheLooseNut]

SAR dog teams usually are crying out for people to volunteer as dogs bodies initially as they crucial for training the dogs, its also a great introduction to the teams and the realities of what they do for the person volunteering.

SARDA Ireland & UK actually require a period as a dedicated dogs body for prospective volunteers as a sort of probationary period, this way they can see who is genuinely dedicated, suitable, and has the time available is my understanding.

[u/Shaula-Alnair]

People already mentioned how there's more jobs to a dog team than the dog and handler. Also though, if you're not up to being an active searcher yet but like your time in the woods, I know the K9 group in my area is often looking for new practice subjects so the dogs aren't always looking for the same people.

[u/clonked → u/Shaula-Alnair]

She should know that means laying in a ditch for hours. Doesn’t sound like the type of work she’s looking for.

[u/vashta_nerada49]

I volunteer with a SAR K9 group and we have 3 members without a dog. We still need Flankers for active searches and bodies to hide for training! We would love this kind of help!

[u/HikeTheSky]

Even Dog Teams need flankers. So I am sure a full dog team could use you. But most teams have a small amount of dogs and 95% are not dog owners.

[u/estunum]

Not at all. At least in our K9 unit, anyone with or without a dog is welcomed. A typical K9 team has at least one flanker anyways, so there’s plenty to do as a non dog owner.

[u/VLN_RNR]

Like others have said, our SAR team uses volunteers to hide. I would definitely reach out and ask!

[u/themanbornwithin]

Not weird at all! My department has slightly more SAR techs than handlers.

One of our members is a photographer. Started out just doing some promo photos for the department, became very interested in what they saw, and joined a bit later. Takes photos most weeks for us.

[u/Bendybenji]

Not at all. You’re at a great age and life situation to start

[u/FlemFatale]

We use volunteers to hide because it means that the dogs get a wide variety of people to find and not the same ones all the time. It means they have to use their brains more and don't get stuck in a routine of finding the same people all the time.
So, in answer to your question, no. Probably not. Live bait is always useful (I hide for our sogs occasionally and do not have my own)!
Taking photographs is a great idea as well, definitely talk to them team first, though.
Good luck! :)

[u/kshortabuck]

Definitley not. I’m on a k9 team and we have a lot of ppl that don’t have dogs. They flank, hide for the dogs. They also have other certifications/abilities that’s are useful like mantracking, running drones, rope rescue, etc. The possibilities are endless!

[u/ConfusedUserUK]

I am a former member of SAR team in UK, which is now called Lowland Search and Rescue. LSAR teams are dealing with searches for vunlerable missing persons. I have helped with trainimg SAR dogs.

I also worked with big retail company to develop policies and procedures to respond to lost children in store. Procedure still in use ~25 years later.

These are my opinions and experience.

Not weird at all.

Many teams require dog handlers spend time first as a non dog handler.

This allows them to develop their skills as a SAR operator. There's a lot of science in misper behaviour and how a missing person will behave.

A missing seven year old who is lost behaves differently than a missing twelve year old who is lost compared to a twenty four year old who is despondent compared to a seventy year old with Alzheimer's. All need to be handled differently if you find them.

Many SAR teams send out dog handlers with a non dog handler support person.

This so misper is found support person can look after misper and dog handler can look after dog, telk them what a good dog they are, reward them.

Which is why any search dog does the searching. It's a fun game with a reward if dog finds target. That's missing person, drugs, explosives, cash, tobacco, fruit and veg, meat, hydrocarbons like petrol and probably more. The reward is usually play time.

[u/2EM315]

Go for it, you’ll learn a ton and handlers need nav-comms and people to hide for them. When you are done with college and move you’ll already have “k9” experience for your next team.

[u/CoyoteCarp]

If you’re ok with blister on your feet and hands and strap burns on your neck and shoulders you’re perfect.