Annapolis , Maryland

BARC provides professional volunteer handlers and search dogs for the recovery of missing and/or lost person(s) upon the request of any official agency at no cost to the agencies or the families. We have responded to hundreds of missing persons searches in the mid-Atlantic states, as well as have been requested throughout the U.S. for our specialized advanced recovery skills to work missions such as cold cases or technically difficult scenes and national tragedies such as the Pentagon after the 9-11 attacks, the Space Shuttle Columbia and hurricane Katrina recovery efforts in Bay St. Louis, MS. As leading specialists in human remains detection, we also provide monthly open training opportunities as well as formal class instruction to other search & rescue teams and law enforcement K9 officers free of charge. We also provide educational programs to agencies and the public to promote a greater understanding of the capabilities of search dogs such as when to use them and why they are highly effective tools for locating missing persons. The members are experienced handlers coming from the wilderness and FEMA search & rescue community who also specialize in working cadaver dogs. We train to high standards to ensure the best is given to those families who are missing their loved ones. All training and responses are done at the expense of the handlers. Handlers dedicate approximately 20 hours or more a week to training themselves and their canines for SAR and often use their vacation time off work for SAR activities. Most gear and equipment is privately owned by the handlers. They use their personal vehicles to travel to trainings, seminars, demos, and search missions - most are more than two hours away. The biggest personal expense is the care of their canines. To help defer costs in support of our mission, donated funds are used for team equipment & supplies such as radios, GPS units, boat equipment, as well help to defray costs associated with outside seminars and certification tests. Please help us to continue to respond when needed by donating today. We need your support. Thank you! [view full description]