Georgian Bay Volunteer Search and Rescue is one of three OSARVA teams to have an OPP/OSARVA certified civilian search and rescue dog. Although these K9 units are affiliated with a specific OSARVA team, such as GBVSAR, they are considered a provincial resource as there are only four certified K9 units in Ontario. These certified units could be requested by the OPP to help out anywhere in the province.
Handler Susan Read
Susan has been a member of GBVSAR for 17 years. Susan started as a ground searcher before forming our team’s K9 unit. Susan is also the Provincial K9 Coordinator for OSARVA. If you have any questions about K9 search and rescue in the province of Ontario, she can be contacted at susan@osarva.ca.
K9 Zori
Zori is a Belgian Malinois that was born on October 17, 2006 in Florida. She was certified by the OPP before her first birthday. She has certified a total of nine consecutive years and hopes to certify for a tenth time this fall.
K9 Zappa
Zappa is a Belgian Malinois that was born on December 21, 2013, in California. Zappa is a NAPWDA (North American Police Work Dog Association) certified cadaver dog. He certified for the first time in 2015. Zappa and Susan travel to Massachusetts each year for re-certification.
New Recruit! Zena
Zena is the newest recruit to our K9 program. She is a Belgian Malinois that was born on February 4, 2017. Zena has lots of spunk and shows great potential to become a full-fledged member of our K9 Unit.
In The News
Volunteer search-and-rescue team covers large area in Georgian Bay region
By Andrew Philips, Special to Postmedia Network
Pooches take flight for search and rescue training
By Catherine Whitnall, Kawartha Lakes This Week
Someone Knows Something
Episode six: The scent