K-9 S.O.S. is a fully insured, all trained-volunteer, non-profit corporation established in 2004. All original members, both human and canine, have previous search and rescue experience. The team's main objective is to provide assistance to emergency agencies including, but not limited to local and state police, fire departments, county coroners, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and the Army Corps of Engineers.

   The team currently consists of six handlers and seven canines. Two of our founding K-9s retired in 2007. Tabby was retired after nine years of devoted service and Sheba was retired after 7½ years of dedicated service.

   Handlers train their own dogs. Weekly training may include wilderness, disaster/ rubble, building, urban, and cadaver/human remains work. Water training is also scheduled when weather permits. K-9 S.O.S. has had successful body recoveries on land, in water, and in burned structures. All of our K-9 members have been instrumental in saving lives.

   K-9 S.O.S. handlers maintain certification in First Aid, CPR, and AED, as well as search and rescue related coursework (Wilderness Search Responder, Basic and Advanced Grid Tactics, Map and Compass and GPS, Water Rescue, Scent Theory, and Cadaver). Other coursework and certifications held by members include: CERT (Community Emergency Response Team), ICS 100 and 200 (Incident Command System), NIMS 700 (National Incident Management System), and NASAR (National Association for Search and Rescue) certification (SARTECH III and SARTECH II).

   Members attend many out-of-state seminars to enhance education of search and rescue methods and techniques. Handlers and their canines have attended various seminars conducted by instructors from the Indiana Department of Homeland Security; Water Rescue and Emergency Response class sponsored by the Pennsylvania Fish and Game Commission; and Human Remains Detection conferences offered by Old Dominion and Lauren County Sheriff's Department in Appomattox, Virginia.

   K-9 S.O.S. has also been accepted as a member of the Ohio Federation of K-9 Search Teams, based in Columbus, Ohio.