Get involved
It takes more people than it takes dogs.
NSRDS is entirely volunteer-run. Handlers get the attention, but a functioning society needs navigators, scribes, radio operators, grant writers and people willing to stand in the rain holding a clipboard.
Where you could fit
Four ways in.
You do not need a dog, a background in emergency services, or any prior search experience. You do need to be reliable, teachable and comfortable with the subject matter.
- 01Multi-year commitment
Canine handler
The largest ask we make. Training a dog to an operational standard takes two years of consistent weekly work, and the commitment continues for the dog’s entire working life.
- 02Callout availability
Field support
Navigation, radio, safety officer, scribe and flanker roles. No dog required. This is the fastest way to become genuinely useful to the team.
- 03Weekend sessions
Training assistant
Helping set training problems, keeping records, and handling logistics on training days. Excellent grounding if you are considering handling later.
- 04Flexible / remote
Society support
Administration, grant writing, fundraising, community outreach and education. Unglamorous, and the reason the operational side can function at all.
Before you apply
What this work actually asks of you.
This is human remains detection. The training aids are real, the callouts are real, and the outcome of a successful search is a family being told something they have dreaded for months or years. It is meaningful work, and it is heavy work.
Searches happen in bad weather, on difficult ground, often at short notice and usually on weekends. Most produce no find. Handlers spend far more hours in a field behind their house than they ever will on a callout.
We would rather you read this and decide it is not for you than join and discover it six months in. If it is for you, we would very much like to hear from you.
Support the society
Where support goes.
Searches are provided at no cost to the families and agencies who request them. Everything below is carried by the society and its volunteers.
Equipment & gear
GPS units, radios, first aid supplies, canine field kit, high-visibility equipment and cold-weather clothing all wear out and need replacing.
Deployment costs
Fuel, vehicle maintenance and accommodation for searches that take teams far from home. Searches are provided at no cost to families — these costs sit with us.
Training & evaluation
External evaluation, seminars and continuing education so that handlers stay current against recognised standards.
Want to contribute?
Get in touch and we will let you know what the society currently needs most — whether that is funds, equipment, or a few hours of your time.