10News honors Southwest Search Dogs (SWSD), an all-volunteer K-9 Search and Rescue non-profit organization, who offers professional K-9 teams certified in Area Search, Training, Cadaver Water, and Basic Urban Disaster, at no cost to the requesting agency.

Five members including Jim Franzees and Richard Davis started the organization in 2004. Davis, a retired San Diego Police Department (SDPD) officer, saw a need for the program and assisted the organization in getting a formal agreement with the SDPD.

SWSD members each have their own dogs through a mentorship program with the experienced trainers amongst themselves. Each individual retains ownership of the dogs, pays for his or her own dog(s) and associated costs (food, veterinary, etc). A certified team consists of a dog and a handler, but in the field a team always has a minimum of two persons for safety. The organization currently operates out of the Presidents home and all of the members rotate duties as facilitators during searches or operations.

When contacted, SWSD calls its members and those who can, will respond and immediately head to the given location with the dogs. The handlers need to learn land navigation, man –tracking, crime-scene investigation, first aid, CPR and other skills. The handler and dog team must pass multiple tests in their disciplines before they are certified to California State OES mutual aid guidelines and Federal NIMS guidelines.

The organization receives assistance from local charities, such as the Employee’s Charity Organization at Northrup, which helped with start-up costs and educational seminars, and Las Patronas, which has recently given them a grant to purchase radios.

For more information, please contact Southwest Search Dogs at 760-433-6021 or visit www.swsdogs.org.