The Search Team Fund is a financial assistance program established in 2008, offering help to handlers with out-of-pocket expenses not covered by their task forces or government agencies. In the last few years, we have added more benefits to the program and expanded the scope of eligibility to include more working dog teams throughout the United States, regardless of where they were initially trained.
We are proud to lessen the financial burden on these teams so they can remain focused on what’s important: staying deployment-ready to assist communities in need.
Search Team Grant
The Search Team Grant is designed to help provide active live-find and human remains detection disaster canine handlers operating in the federal and state urban search and rescue (US&R) systems and nonprofit-affiliated wilderness search, avalanche search, and odor detection canine handlers gain the skills and experience needed to be ready for deployment by lessening the burden of their out-of-pocket expenses for training and equipment.
Over the last 17 years, this program has made it possible for first responder canine handlers to attend specialized training, purchase training gear and equipment, and pay for travel expenses and other costs not covered by their task forces.
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and State Urban Search and Rescue Alliance (SUSAR) US&R handlers (live-find and human remains) and nonprofit-affiliated wilderness search, avalanche search, and odor detection handlers in good standing with their organizations who have met their training requirements.
Training events/workshops/seminars, outside your team’s regular training area, designed to increase your training knowledge, exposure to new search areas, and networking opportunities in the working dog community. It may include registration, travel & lodging fees.
NOT eligible: Fuel to attend your regular task force training sessions; online courses, etc.
Training equipment such as agility and conditioning items, BSD boxes, GPS collars, canine treadmills, and Klimb platforms.
NOT eligible: Personal protective equipment (PPE) that your agency or organization should provide; basic pet items such as toys, collars, and leashes.
Canine care items like eye/ear/paw protection, first aid/decontamination supplies, crates, heat-related equipment like crate fans or shade cloths.
NOT eligible: Truck shells or the like, that increase the value of your vehicle.
This grant may be used to purchase one new crate, per handler, every 5 years.
Your application must include a detailed breakdown of what training event you wish to attend and how you will spend the money, or what items you plan to purchase, in the “Description” box. If you do not provide complete information that the Search Team Grant Committee can properly evaluate, your application will be denied.
Funding for requested items is approved at the sole discretion of the Search Team Grant Committee and the Search Dog Foundation.
SDF’s fiscal year runs October 1 through September 30. Each quarter, a month application period will open for submissions. Once applications have been vetted to make sure they meet eligibility requirements, our Search Team Grant Committee will review them.
All approved applications will be entered into a lottery drawing, which will occur within one month of the conclusion of the application period. At that time, you will be notified if you have been awarded a grant that quarter. If your name is not drawn, you may re-apply in subsequent application periods.
Open application periods for the 2025-2026 fiscal year:
- October 1-31, 2025
- January 1-31, 2026
- April 1-30, 2026
- July 1-31, 2026
Individual handlers may be awarded one (1) grant, up to $1,000 per SDF fiscal year (October 1 – September 30).
A description of how the funds were used, photos, and receipts for all items within 45 days of purchase.
The Search Team Grant is now closed for this quarter’s funding cycle and will reopen for applications on July 1, 2026.
If you are not already on our email list, please contact [email protected] and provide your full name, working dog discipline, task force or organization affiliation, and your organization’s website, to ensure you receive communications regarding this grant and other information for working dog handlers.
Canine Healthcare Fund
Every SDF-trained canine receives medical coverage for the entirety of their lives, even after retirement. The Canine Healthcare Fund ensures that our search dogs receive the best veterinary care at no cost to the handler, fire department, or task force.
In addition, SDF offers the Canine Healthcare Grant, supporting non-SDF-trained handlers of active and retired state and federal disaster search canines and nonprofit-affiliated wilderness search, avalanche search, and odor detection canines with veterinary costs attributed to wellness, illness, and injury that are not funded through a handler’s organization, fire department or task force budgets.
Active and retired Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and State Urban Search and Rescue Alliance (SUSAR) certified US&R handlers (live-find and human remains) and nonprofit-affiliated certified wilderness search, avalanche search, and odor detection canines attached to and in good standing with a nonprofit organization, state or federal task force that does not provide medical expense coverage for their canine(s).
- Injury or illness, including cancer diagnosis and treatment
- Prescription medication (this must be prescribed by your veterinarian for a specific condition that fits within the guidelines of this grant)
- Physical therapy (this must be prescribed by your veterinarian for a specific condition that fits within the guidelines of this grant)
- Chiropractic or other alternative care (this must be prescribed by your veterinarian for a specific condition that fits within the guidelines of this grant)
- Palliative care and euthanasia
- General wellness exams and testing
- Vaccinations
- Dental cleaning
- Flea, tick, and heartworm prevention products
- Shampoo, conditioner, ear cleaner, and any other basic canine care products
- Health certificate for travel (Note: If this is for travel related to a Search Team Grant training trip, please include the health certificate cost in your application for approval)
Continuous – grant applications are reviewed via email in the order they are received.
Individual handlers may be awarded one (1) grant, up to $1,000 per SDF fiscal year (October 1 – September 30).
A description of how the funds were used, photos, and receipts for all items within 45 days of purchase.
Please review the guidelines for this grant above and apply using the online application here: https://searchdogfoundation.formstack.com/forms/canine_healthcare_grant_app
Incomplete applications will not be considered for funding.
These benefits are made possible by donations from individuals, foundations, and organizations nationwide who believe in the work you do and support SDF’s mission of strengthening disaster response in America, including:
Allen Hohnroth and Renee Berlin
Cencora Impact Foundation
Farmers Insurance®
Los Angeles Breakfast Club
The Mauck Family, In Loving Memory of Scott Mauck
Any questions about the Search Team Fund benefits programs can be emailed to our Search Team Operations team at [email protected].