My Wife (Heather) and I began in SAR as ground searchers and worked at a kennel that breeds and train working dogs. It didn't take us long to venture over to having a SAR K-9. We are both instructors and or Evaluators for SDONA, HRD Specialty Group, and IDHS and we have a business, DARK K-9 focusing on K-9 fitness and conditioning and detection dogs.

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Personally, we have area search, disaster and cadaver dogs certified through IDHS, LETS, NAPWDA and NSDA. I handle three dogs Roxy (Pictured) is our retired area search dog.  O-ren my current Area search K9 and Anna my HRD K9. All of our dogs hold or have held National certifications through one or more agencies.

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We are also certified Firefighters and members of the Shakertown KY Volunteer Fire Department.   And I also serve as my county’s SAR coordinator. 

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Our biggest pet peeve in life is for someone to refer to this as a hobby. We don't believe SAR K-9 to be a hobby any more than being a volunteer fire fighter is a hobby. We take this responsibility very seriously and incorporate it as a way of life, not as a hobby. We hope to encourage and promote professionalism and reliability in the area of SAR K-9.