As the Search Dog Foundation continues moving forward, ever-evolving our program and improving our campus to ensure the training of future generations of canine disaster search teams, we have not forgotten where it all began.
From our Founder, Wilma Melville:
168 is engraved in my heart.
On April 19, 1995, many of our lives were changed forever when a terrorist bomb ripped open the side of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, killing 168 and injuring many more. First responders from across the country answered the call to aid in rescue and recovery efforts, including me and my disaster search dog, Murphy.
While this tragedy marked the beginning of the Search Dog Foundation, it has always been not about our organization, but the lives lost and the many rescuers who worked tirelessly to find and help others in the aftermath.
After my deployment to Oklahoma City, I set a personal goal of seeing the Search Dog Foundation not only train, but certify 168 canine disaster search teams – one for each of the lives lost.
Because of that life-altering experience, I made a vow to myself and the nation that we would create the first nonprofit organization to produce highly-trained disaster search dogs for our country, providing them free-of-charge to their task forces and fire departments to help ensure that no survivors are left behind.
And boy, did we… together!
What started as a small group of volunteers, nearly as driven as the search dogs we trained, together we have created an organization that continues to lead the way for providing support and strengthening disaster response in this country.
Since that fateful day 25 years ago, SDF teams have responded to 196 deployments around the world, rescued hundreds of dogs from bad situations, and made a difference in countless lives.
Then, I was able to travel to the certification test in Phoenix, Arizona, earlier this year to see seven SDF-trained search teams pass their tests, completing my goal of creating 168 certified search teams.
Now, hear how the bombing in Oklahoma affected my life as well as my message for the handlers who certified in Phoenix and for all who have certified throughout our history:
“It’s important that we honor those people… that is what the 168 means to me. Having been a handler at that tragedy, it literally took my life and turned it in a new direction… that tragedy reached my heart. 168 is engraved in my heart.”
I appreciate the support you’ve provided our search teams through the years. We would not have reached this milestone for our community or for our country without you. We are grateful to have you with us on this journey.
Thank you for believing in our mission. Thank you for being Part of the Search!
