Search Dog Foundation – Canine Healthcare Grant

Search Dog Foundation – Canine Healthcare Grant is sponsored by National Disaster Search Dog Foundation (Search Dog Foundation). Supports handlers of working/rescue dogs for prescribed healthcare (injury, illness, therapy), reviewed continuously.

Search Team Fund - National Disaster Search Dog Foundation Training Space Reservations National Disaster Search Dog Foundation Strengthening disaster response in America Training Space Reservations The Search Team Fund is a financial assistance program established in 2008, offering help to handlers with out-of-pocket expenses not covered by their task forces or government agencies.

In the last few years, we have added more benefits to the program and expanded the scope of eligibility to include more working dog teams throughout the United States, regardless of where they were initially trained. We are proud to lessen the financial burden on these teams so they can remain focused on what’s important: staying deployment-ready to assist communities in need.

The Search Team Grant is designed to help provide active live-find and human remains detection disaster canine handlers operating in the federal and state urban search and rescue (US&R) systems and nonprofit-affiliated wilderness search, avalanche search, and odor detection canine handlers gain the skills and experience needed to be ready for deployment by lessening the burden of their out-of-pocket expenses for training and equipment.

Over the last 17 years, this program has made it possible for first responder canine handlers to attend specialized training, purchase training gear and equipment, and pay for travel expenses and other costs not covered by their task forces. Who can apply for the Search Team Grant program?

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and State Urban Search and Rescue Alliance (SUSAR) US&R handlers (live-find and human remains) and nonprofit-affiliated wilderness search, avalanche search, and odor detection handlers in good standing with their organizations who have met their training requirements. What can the Search Team Grant funds be used for?

Training events/workshops/seminars , outside your team’s regular training area, designed to increase your training knowledge, exposure to new search areas, and networking opportunities in the working dog community. It may include registration, travel & lodging fees.

NOT eligible: Fuel to attend your regular task force training sessions; online courses, etc. Training equipment such as agility and conditioning items, BSD boxes, GPS collars, canine treadmills, and Klimb platforms. NOT eligible: Personal protective equipment (PPE) that your agency or organization should provide; basic pet items such as toys, collars, and leashes.

Canine care items like eye/ear/paw protection, first aid/decontamination supplies, crates, heat-related equipment like crate fans or shade cloths. NOT eligible: Truck shells or the like, that increase the value of your vehicle. This grant may be used to purchase one new crate, per handler, every 5 years.

Your application must include a detailed breakdown of what training event you wish to attend and how you will spend the money, or what items you plan to purchase, in the “Description” box. If you do not provide complete information that the Search Team Grant Committee can properly evaluate, your application will be denied.

Funding for requested items is approved at the sole discretion of the Search Team Grant Committee and the Search Dog Foundation. SDF’s fiscal year runs October 1 through September 30. Each quarter, a month application period will open for submissions.

Once applications have been vetted to make sure they meet eligibility requirements, our Search Team Grant Committee will review them. All approved applications will be entered into a lottery drawing, which will occur within one month of the conclusion of the application period. At that time, you will be notified if you have been awarded a grant that quarter.

If your name is not drawn, you may re-apply in subsequent application periods. Open application periods for the 2025-2026 fiscal year: How much can we request per year? Individual handlers may be awarded one (1) grant, up to $1,000 per SDF fiscal year (October 1 – September 30).

What is required after a grant is funded? A description of how the funds were used, photos, and receipts for all items within 45 days of purchase. How do I apply for the Search Team Grant?

The Search Team Grant is now closed for this quarter’s funding cycle. If you are not already on our mailing list, please contact [email protected] to ensure you receive communications regarding this grant and other information for working dog handlers. Every SDF-trained canine receives medical coverage for the entirety of their lives, even after retirement.

The Canine Healthcare Fund ensures that our search dogs receive the best veterinary care at no cost to the handler, fire department, or task force.

In addition, SDF offers the Canine Healthcare Grant, supporting non-SDF-trained handlers of active and retired state and federal disaster search canines and nonprofit-affiliated wilderness search, avalanche search, and odor detection canines with veterinary costs attributed to wellness, illness, and injury that are not funded through a handler’s organization, fire department or task force budgets.

Who can apply for the Canine Healthcare Grant?

Active and retired Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and State Urban Search and Rescue Alliance (SUSAR) certified US&R handlers (live-find and human remains) and nonprofit-affiliated certified wilderness search, avalanche search, and odor detection canines attached to and in good standing with a nonprofit organization, state or federal task force that does not provide medical expense coverage for their canine(s).

What can the Canine Healthcare Grant be used for?

Prescription medication (this must be prescribed by your veterinarian for a specific condition that fits within the guidelines of this grant) Physical therapy (this must be prescribed by your veterinarian for a specific condition that fits within the guidelines of this grant) Chiropractic or other alternative care (this must be prescribed by your veterinarian for a specific condition that fits within the guidelines of this grant) Palliative care and euthanasia What is NOT covered by the Canine Healthcare Grant?

General wellness exams and testing Flea, tick, and heartworm prevention products Shampoo, conditioner, ear cleaner, and any other basic canine care products Health certificate for travel (Note: If this is for travel related to a Search Team Grant training trip, please include the health certificate cost in your application for approval) Continuous – grant applications are reviewed via email in the order they are received.

How much can we request per year? Individual handlers may be awarded one (1) grant, up to $1,000 per SDF fiscal year (October 1 – September 30). What is required after a grant is funded?

A description of how the funds were used, photos, and receipts for all items within 45 days of purchase. How do I apply for a Canine Healthcare grant? Please review the guidelines for this grant above and apply using the online application here: https://searchdogfoundation.

formstack. com/forms/canine_healthcare_grant_app Incomplete applications will not be considered for funding. Petco Love Canine Cancer Fund The Petco Love Canine Cancer Fund was established in 2012 to provide funding for active and retired working canines in urban search and rescue, wilderness, human remains detection, avalanche, military, and police disciplines that have been diagnosed with forms of cancer.

Petco Love , Blue Buffalo, and the Search Dog Foundation partnered to create this grant to ensure that no handler will ever have to make the choice between financial stability and prolonging his or her canine partner’s quality of life due to a cancer diagnosis. Who can apply for the Petco Love Canine Cancer Fund?

Applicants must meet all of the following criteria to be considered for funding: Working canines (active and retired) in certified search disciplines – US&R (urban search and rescue), wilderness, human remains, avalanche, military, and police department canines are also able to participate. Canines with a specified cancer diagnosis. Certification and affiliation must be confirmed with sponsoring agency.

What can the Petco Love Canine Cancer Fund be used for? The Petco Love Canine Cancer Fund may be used to cover expenses of a cancer diagnosis, treatment, palliative, and end-of-life care for working canines that qualify for funding. Continuous – grant applications are reviewed via email in the order they are received.

How much can we request per year? Funding is awarded on a case-by-case basis to ensure that the Petco Love Canine Cancer Fund can help support as many working dog teams facing a cancer diagnosis as possible each year. What is the application process?

We want to make this process as simple as possible for handlers during a very difficult time after receiving a canine partner’s cancer diagnosis. In general, the application process is as follows: Submit an application at the link above with your dog’s full cancer medical history and the prognosis, as well as the potential treatment plan if suggested by the veterinarian.

Notify your veterinarian that a staff member from SDF may contact them with specific questions about your canine’s diagnosis and give them permission to speak with us about his/her case. SDF reviews the application and diagnosis and contacts your vet, if necessary. SDF will contact you with the outcome of your request.

If approved, your commitment to helping ensure support for future canines in need includes submitting a photo and short story of your canine’s life and career to SDF via email. SDF will provide payment information to your veterinarian or mail a check to you for expenses incurred How do I apply for a Petco Love Canine Cancer Fund grant? To apply for the Petco Love Canine Cancer Fund, go to: https://searchdogfoundation.

formstack.

com/forms/canine_cancer_fund_app These benefits are made possible by donations from individuals, foundations, and organizations nationwide who believe in the work you do and support SDF’s mission of strengthening disaster response in America, including: Allen Hohnroth and Renee Berlin Cencora Impact Foundation Los Angeles Breakfast Club The Mauck Family, In Loving Memory of Scott Mauck Any questions about the Search Team Fund benefits programs can be emailed to our Search Team Operations team at [email protected] .

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