ABOUT SARDOC

Search and Rescue Dogs of Colorado

Colorado’s volunteer K9 search and rescue teams — trained, certified, and ready to deploy at any hour in partnership with law enforcement and SAR agencies statewide.

 

Our Mission

At SARDOC, we are dedicated to saving lives through the incredible skill and devotion of our highly trained search and rescue dogs.

Our expert handlers and canine partners search for missing persons in wilderness areas, disaster zones, and urban environments. With specialized training in scent detection, trailing, and recovery, SARDOC teams play a crucial role in emergency response efforts across Colorado.

  • We deploy certified volunteer K9 teams when agencies request assistance.
  • We train year-round to remain mission-ready for real deployments.
  • We serve communities with professionalism, compassion, and dedication.

Whether responding to natural disasters or assisting law enforcement, our mission is simple: bringing loved ones home.

100% Volunteer
Handlers & dogs donate their time
Certified Teams
Ongoing testing & recertification
Statewide Service
Mountains, plains, cities & deserts
Multi-Discipline
Air scent, trailing, HRD & more

How Deployments Work

1) Requested or Approved by Law Enforcement
SARDOC does not self-deploy. All search deployments are initiated by law enforcement or by agencies operating under their authority. We respond only when officially requested or granted permission to assist.
2) Teams Mobilize Anytime, Day or Night
When a callout comes in, handlers and their certified dogs mobilize immediately. Whether it is 2 PM or 2 AM, volunteers leave home, work, or sleep and travel directly to the incident location to assist in finding missing persons.
3) Working Under Law Enforcement Direction
Upon arrival, SARDOC teams integrate into the Incident Command System (ICS). Handlers receive assignments and work under the leadership of the requesting agency, aligning K9 search strategies with the overall mission plan.
4) Searching in All Conditions
SARDOC dogs and handlers search in rugged terrain and challenging environments — heat, snow, rain, wind, and darkness. Teams remain mission-ready through constant training to operate safely and effectively in real-world scenarios.

SARDOC Leadership

Executive Board

President: Karalee Gendreau — president@sardock9.com

Secretary: Karen Williams — secretary@sardock9.com

Treasurer: Rob Chapman — treasurer@sardock9.com

Fielding Coordinator: Misty Featherstone — fieldingcoordinator@sardock9.com

Testing Coordinator: Pamela Eaton — testingcoordinator@sardock9.com

Membership Coordinator: Paula Bindrich — membercoordinator@sardock9.com

Area Directors

Northern Region: Bobbie Ambruzs — northernregion@sardock9.com

Central Region: Marcia McMahon — centralregion@sardock9.com

Southern Region: Ina Bernard — southernregion@sardock9.com

Western Region: Jay Rigdon — westernregion@sardock9.com

Standards Committee

Ina Bernard — Chairperson and Southern Area Director

Misty Featherstone — Fielding Coordinator

Pamela Eaton — Testing Coordinator

Jay Rigdon — Western Area Director

Marcia McMahon — Central Area Director

Bobbie Ambruzs — Northern Area Director

Want to help bring someone home?

Your support keeps our volunteer K9 teams training, certified, and ready to deploy.