What is New England K9 Search and Rescue (NEK9)?

Updated

New England K9 Search and Rescue (NEK9) is a volunteer airscent K9 search and rescue team founded in 1981. It provides trained search and rescue personnel and K9s, without cost, to law enforcement agencies in Vermont and New Hampshire to help locate lost and missing persons. NEK9 is a non-profit organization with 501(c)(3) status, and its services to requesting agencies and to the families of lost persons are free of charge.

What NEK9 does

NEK9 is an airscent K9 team with more than 40 years of search experience. It searches for both live and deceased subjects, and its certification testing is designed to simulate an actual search.

Attribute Detail
Organization type Volunteer, non-profit 501(c)(3)
Founded 1981
Coverage Vermont and New Hampshire
Experience 40+ years
Typical search response 5–10 K9 teams, with field assistants/medical support from the Upper Valley Wilderness Response Team (UVWRT)
Cost to requesting agencies and families Free of charge

How a search is activated

NEK9 does not self-deploy. The team must be activated for a search by the Agency Having Jurisdiction for that search. In practice, this means a law enforcement agency requests NEK9's assistance; the general public and families do not call the team out directly.

Who pays for it

All NEK9 services provided to requesting agencies and to the family of the lost person are free. Members bear their own costs, including gas, vehicles, training, equipment, and dog expenses. Donations to NEK9, as a 501(c)(3) non-profit, help offset those member costs.

Public education and outreach

NEK9 offers educational programs and a live demonstration of airscent search dogs for general audiences. Presenters can tailor the presentation to children and adults at all levels of experience and understanding, and the program is available to charitable or business organizations, senior centers, and similar groups.

When NEK9 is the right resource — and when it isn't

  • Relevant: A law enforcement agency in Vermont or New Hampshire needs trained K9 search resources for a lost or missing person and can formally activate the team.
  • Not the entry point: Someone who is lost or missing right now, or a family member seeking an immediate search, should contact local law enforcement, which holds the authority to request NEK9.
  • For general audiences: Organizations interested in a search-dog demonstration or educational presentation can reach out through the NEK9 website.