We wanted to take a moment to share with you why we chose to support Search and Rescue Dogs Ontario.

SAR Dogs Ontario is a composed of four dedicated volunteer civilian handlers and K-9 partners who work and train alongside Ontario Police search and rescue teams. When we first started Head-Lites, we wanted to test out the functionality of our design beyond the dog parks and were very welcomed by SAR Dogs Ontario to shadow a number of their training runs.

It was an eye opening experience to learn about what they do, why they do it, and how they do it all on their own time and finances. They are deployed in missing person cases and are called at a moment’s notice to support and replenish low resourced police search operations.

In addition to obtaining various certifications, the teams are out training twice a week for 6 to 8 at a time to maintain their certifications. Why do they do it? They love working with their dogs and for the simple altruistic desire of using that K-9 bond and partnership to help others.

We often don’t hear about these volunteers until someone goes missing. We’re humbled that we can support them and also give them a product that helps them perform their jobs better. Dave Walker, Hetty Abma, Ray Lau, Marianne Ivancsics and your K-9 partners, we thank you for all that you do in our community.

Visit Search and Rescue Dogs Ontario to find out more about how you can help.

Photos courtesy of Search and Rescue Dogs Ontario and Head-Lites Pet Products Inc.