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The American Rescue Dog Association (ARDA), the nation's oldest air-scenting search dog organization, was founded in 1972 by Bill and Jean Syrotuck. The ARDA "concept" was a result of the Syrotuck's desire to provide the public with competent well trained search and rescue personnel and canines. To achieve this goal, the Syrotuck's formed the American Rescue Dog Association by organizing various state rescue dog associations from across the nation in order to share training techniques, develop uniform standards, and create a national alerting system for major emergencies. Since its inception, ARDA's standards and training methods have served as the model for K-9 search and rescue units across the nation and around the world. ARDA's innovations include:The development of standards and training methods for the air-scenting search dog.The development of a national evaluation system for member units.Pioneering research on scent behavior and how it relates to different terrain and weather conditions. The first use of American trained search dogs to locate avalanche victims (SARDA, ARDA-WA, 1969). The first use of American trained search dogs to locate victims of a major disaster (Ramapo, ARDA-NJ, Johnstown Floods, 1977). The development of the first specific training methods for the use of air-scenting search dogs to locate drowning victims (VSRDA, ARDA-VA, 1979). In addition, Bill and Jean Syrotuck developed the "sector search" method, a search technique that involves using multiple dog/handler teams simultaneously to cover a given area, and they also complied the first study of victim behavior, now used in search management courses nationwide. ARDA's standards and training methods, as valid today as when they were first developed by the Syrotuck's and the Washington Unit in the 1960's, are set forth in the ARDA textbook, Search and Rescue Dogs: Training the K-9 Hero. This text book, which was revised in 2002, sets forth the training concepts that have stood the test of thousands of successful ARDA missions. For additional information about ARDA please send us an email or write us at the following address:The American Rescue Dog Association