AKC CAR Donates over $5,000 to Support the Wahkiakum County Sheriff's Office SAR Team (WA)
Raleigh, NC (February 2, 2009) - AKC Companion Animal Recovery recently awarded an AKC CAR Canine Support and Relief Fund grant to the Wahkiakum County Sheriff's Office Search and Rescue (SAR) Team in the state of Washington. The Wahkiakum County Sheriff's Office SAR Team, consisting of four canines, conducts search and rescue operations, evidence searches and other operations as directed by the Sheriff through use of its officers and volunteer members. Wahkiakum County is situated along the Columbia River in southwest Washington. This rural county is a popular fishing and hunting location, where 80% of the area is timber on mountain slopes. The terrain is rough, and vehicles have limited access.
The $5,352 grant will allow the SAR Team to purchase dog tracking harnesses, GPS dog tracking systems and enable all four dogs and handlers to participate in the 2009 SAR Conference. In addition, each dog will be able to complete needed individual training. Two dogs will attend basic tracking, one wilderness tracking and one small enclosure search training. This is essential because dogs trained in search and rescue can provide the best response when emergencies occur in mountain areas.
"The dog teams in this SAR unit are all volunteers who have given countless hours providing county residents and visitors with search and rescue services." said Tom Sharp, Vice President and CEO of AKC CAR. "We commend them for their dedication and are very pleased to be able to award this grant that will provide equipment to better serve a wider area as well as provide essential training to the canine teams."
About the AKC CAR Canine Support and Relief Fund
The AKC CAR Canine Support and Relief Fund was established as a permanent charitable fund with the goals of providing resources, support, funds, and other assistance to not-for-profit canine search and rescue organizations and K-9 units; not-for-profit veterinary units providing support to the canine rescue teams; and not-for-profit animal shelters and similar not-for-profit organizations providing care for domestic animals orphaned or displaced as a result of natural or civil disasters.
For more information on the AKC CAR Canine Support and Relief Fund, visit the website AKCCAR.org or call 1-800-252-7894.