Search And Rescue Dog Association

The Search And Rescue Dog Association was formed in Scotland in 1965.

Hamish MacInnes team leader of Glencoe Mountain Rescue Team, attended an International Red Cross Search Dog course in Switzerland. They were training and assessing avalanche search dog's.

He saw the potential for using dogs to search for lost walkers and climbers within the UK.

On his return to the United Kingdom. Hamish started training his two German Shepherd's Rangi and Tiki.

In Dec 1964 a training course with Mountain Rescue Members from throughout the UK was held in Glencoe, encouraged by this course, and the potential shown by the dogs. A meeting was held in May 1965 and SARDA was formed.

SARDA initially covered the whole of the UK. By 1971 it had become devolved into Scottish, English and Welsh associations. Further developments led to the modern day, with the present formation of eight Associations: England, English Lake District, Ireland North, Ireland South, Scotland, South Wales, Southern Scotland and Wales.

The National Search And Rescue Dog Association (NSARDA) was formed to represent the sister associations at a national level with other National Authorities .

SARDA England is a founder member of NSARDA

and also a member of the Mountain Rescue Council of England and Wales

See the links page for further information about MRC, NSARDA and our Sister Associations.