Can you help find my lost person?

AASAR works as a supporting part of public safety agencies.  We respond to requests from law enforcement and fire departments whenever possible.  In the event that someone is lost or missing, please contact law enforcement immediately.  The sooner a search is started the better the chance for survival. 

 

Do you charge for your services?

All of Alamo Area Search and Rescue’s services are free of charge.  Each member pays for their own equipment, training, gas and takes time off work (Yes, we all have regular jobs!) to provide our services.

 

Who trains your dogs?

Each dog handler is responsible for the training of their own dog. We are fortunate to have extremely knowledgeable team members that dedicate their time to provide support and guidance through the training process.

 

Do you get paid?

We are all volunteers.  None of us are paid to work with Alamo Area Search and Rescue.

 

Who pays for your training and supplies?

Each person is responsible for the cost of training and purchasing needed equipment for themselves and their canines. Participating in search and rescue is not cheap.  Each member of Alamo Area Search and Rescue not only volunteers their time, they spend a lot of their own money.  Alamo Area Search and Rescue uses fundraising and donations to purchase big equipment like radios, boats, etc. to help keep the costs down for our members.

 

How can I help?

Donations are always welcome!  We are a 501(c)(3) organization, so you donations are tax deductible.  Your money will be spent on expensive equipment, team insurance, and general operating costs.   If you would like to donate you can click here for more information.

We are always looking for new areas to train our dogs.  If you have land (preferably undeveloped), large buildings, rubble piles, junkyards, etc. in the greater San Antonio area, that you would be willing to let us use for training, we would love to hear from you!  Email us at info@alamoareasar.org

Alamo Area Search and Rescue is always looking for new volunteers!  We are looking for members with and without dogs.  If you are interested in learning more about search and rescue and/or team membership consider coming out and observing one of our training sessions!

 

Can I come and see one of your training sessions?

Yes! Observers are welcome during our team training sessions. Seeing the team handle search scenarios and watching our team members and canines hard at work gives you a better idea of our operations so that you can determine if you would like to pursue Search and Rescue. 

How do I join your team?

All potential new members are required to attend four team training sessions before they can start the team application process. Our New Member Coordinator is the best point of contact for individuals interested in joining the team and can be contacted at aasar_newmember@alamoareasar.org. 

 

Can I be a member if I don’t have a dog?

YES! Alamo Area Search and Rescue is always looking for team-oriented volunteers that enjoy the outdoors and are dedicated to the community. All of our K9 handlers are search specialists first-and-foremost and are required to learn the skills required for efficient wilderness navigation, field communications, base logistics, and assist with fundraising. Canine training is a specialization of SAR skills and is not required of team members. If you are interested in volunteering with Alamo Area Search and Rescue email us info@alamoareasar.org

 

How do I know if my dog would be good for search and rescue?

There are several tools that can be used to evaluate a young dog.  Some can be found at the following links

• Disaster Canine Screening      http://www.disasterdog.org/pdf/training/articles/Screening.pdf
• Volhard Puppy Aptitude Test      http://www.workingdogs.com/testing_volhard.htm
• PAWS Working Dog Evaluation       http://malinut.com/ref/write/paws/

Search dogs typically start training between 6 months and 2 years of age.  If you think your dog has what it takes and you are interested in learning about search and rescue contact us at info@alamoareasar.org.

 

Can I donate my dog?

If someone on our team is looking for a new search partner we would be glad to talk with you and take a look at your dog. If not we can refer you to another resource.

 

I have a search dog and will be visiting your area. Can we train with you while we are there? 

Yes, but this is by appointment only.  You need to email us well in advance of your visit so that we can make sure it’s appropriate for you to bring your dog. info@alamoareasar.org