About Us
We are...
Disaster Dogs of Illinois (DDI) is a 501(c)(3) non-for-profit organization, which has and continues to develop K-9 and Handler teams for disaster team deployment once they have achieved nationally recognized and accepted certification from the National Association for Search and Rescue (NASAR) or National Search Dog Alliance (NSDA) for the purpose of assisting in the location of trapped, missing, or buried victims during natural or manmade disasters.
Our Mission
The mission of DDI is to train, equip, and deploy the highest quality, certified K-9/Handler Urban Search and Rescue teams possible at no cost to those in need. DDI is dedicated to the education and service to find those live souls that are trapped, incapacitated, or otherwise unable to escape to safety following any disaster whether natural or manmade.
Our Goals
Short-Term Goal
To add more fully trained, certified, equipped and deployable K-9/handler teams ready to respond in 2018. This includes K-9 support vehicles, equipment trailer, and mobile operations center. DDI currently has NASAR and NSDA certified K-9 Teams.
Long-Term Goal
To have 3 Task Force's (TF) of 5 to 6 K-9/handlers in 3 Regions of Illinois (North) TF-Region1, Central TF-Region 2 and South TF-Region 3) ready in Strike Team configuration. Each TF will be self-sufficient for initial response within a 3 hour time frame to any location in Illinois. Less than 8 hours away is additional follow-on DDI TF assets. Each DDI TF will support each other and the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) disaster box assignments.
