If you want to get involved as a donor/sponsor that would be highly appreciated. Because we are a volunteer organization, we bear all our own costs. This means the costs for all our equipment, the dog and the travelling to the training and every rescue. Any donations in are very welcome. We also need people who will come and help us out to train the dogs. We are not looking for dog trainers but for people who would love to spend some time sitting under a tree (reading a book) and who would love to play with the dog as soon as the dog has found them.

If you want to get involved as a dog handler or flanker the following requirements are important:

• Age between 18 and 55 years
• Good physical fitness
• Good outdoor equipment
• Be available 24/7
• Family support
• Outdoor oriented
• Team player
• Funds for equipment and expenses

If you would like to join us as a dog handler you don’t need to have a dog to start off with. Sometimes it is better to start without a dog and by the time you are ready we can help you find the right dog for you. But if you already have a dog we require the following:

• Not older than 1 year at the time of contacting us.
• Crazy about his/her toys
• Medium size and agile
• Good physical fitness
• No aggression human or dog related
• No previous manwork, attack or protection training

1. Join us for a training session to meet the unit and see what is involved.
2. Complete application form
3. Interviewed by the senior team member
4. Assessment of dog
5. Field physical fitness assessment at first training session

After passing all this the probation of a year will start. The first 6 months is a probtional period to determine if your and your dog are suitable as a unit. At the end of the first 6 months the whole unit will decide if you can continue the training. The second 6 months is the probation with your dog where we will teach you and your dog the basic principles of becoming a search dog team. At the end of the probation year the whole unit will vote if you can become a member of K9SARA-SA. During the probation you will get call-outs for rescues and exercises where you can attend as flanker or general helper. You will only be able to attend as a search dog team once you have passed the formal evaluation.

Just be aware joining K9SARA-SA is not about training your dog. It is about being available 24/7 for any kind of rescue. As mentioned before, the dog will get it quite quickly because for them it is one big game, but for us, the handlers, it is about being dedicated. A call-out will never come at a convenient time.