Our Mission

• to provide instruction in Emergency Management to Search and Rescue Teams
• to equip Search and Rescue teams around the country
• to provide free air transport to active missions and training where possible
• to provide health care to all SAR K-9s that worked at Ground Zero and the Pentagon

Our Purpose

Most of the search and rescue teams (SAR) that answer the call for help both in your community and, when needed, around the world do so out of their own pockets. Even if they are part of a local, state, or federally funded organization they often only obtain partial assistance for their expenses. While many SAR teams have local or state affiliations they still depend on donations to maintain their operations. These teams do not seek attention and public fanfare for their work, nor do they ask for monetary reimbursement. These men, women, and canines complete their missions and quietly return home to their work-a-day lives. They do this job because this is the work they love to do. While much of their time involves answering requests to help find missing children or a kidnapping victim they are always ready to respond to natural or man-made disasters both here and abroad. They readily drop whatever work or personal obligations they have and answer the call for help. Along with municipal police and fire, they are often some of the very first rescuers to assist victims.

How much more could these heroes who rush in "so that others may live" accomplish if the financial burden was lifted from them? How much more could they learn if their expenses were taken care of? These teams need an advocate to assist them with financial support so that they can concentrate their energies and "minuteman spirit" on providing for the common good. It is the mission of The Bear Search and Rescue Foundation to assist these individuals and groups.