Bobcat Builds Elite Canine Team’s Training Grounds

They were there following the World Trade Center attack on 9/11, Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and 2010’s 7.0-magnitude earthquake in Haiti. 

In the hours following some of the worst disasters the world has ever seen, a brave team of first responders sprang into action to search for survivors. One rescuer in particular stands out from the crew. One with the remarkable ability to locate seemingly impossible-to-find victims by scent, not sight and sound. 

The hero? You guessed it — man’s best friend. 

The National Disaster Search Dog Foundation (SDF) specializes in training elite canine teams to find survivors in the immediate aftermath of natural and man-made disasters. As you can imagine, teaching dogs this life-saving skill amidst a mass of dust, debris and other dangerous elements takes an intentional, tactical and careful approach.  

So to make sure their teams are trained, SDF relies on one compact-equipment manufacturer to recreate life-like disaster areas — Bobcat. 

“We’re training the next generation of search teams so that they are prepared before they step off a plane or a bus at the next disaster site,” says Denise Sanders, Senior Director of Communications and Handler Operations at SDF. “Bobcat® equipment helps us build up our training center even more and create that dynamic training experience we need.”