Heroes with paws, part of the K9 Search and Rescue Association of South Africa, suited up and prepared for the skies, thanks to their adorable (though if the dogs ask us, we’ll say very brave) chopper training.
South Africa (14 April 2025) — ‘Get to the chopper!’ except it’s a dog version of Arnold Schwarzenegger. That was what we imagine a recent chopper training session to have encompassed for the K9 Search and Rescue Association of South Africa (K9 SARA) unit—a form of the dogs’ training that’s equal parts brave and adorable (just look at the dogs in their helicopter-ready kits!)
What business does a hero dog have helicoptering around? Well, when you’re a search and rescue dog, a big part of your time volunteering includes logistics.
Who are the K9 SARA?
When a hiker goes missing, a person can’t be found after a building collapses or a natural disaster strikes, leaving many separated from their families, it’s often trained dogs who help turn these tragedies into happy endings, thanks to their scent trailing abilities.
The K9 SARA is a non-profit volunteer organisation that trains some of the fluffier heroes of our country to put their noses to the ground for all of these important reasons.
Here, dogs with a natural knack for finding people and things can join the K9 SARA family, where they are trained by other volunteers (more about the volunteer organisation here).
Get to the Chopper!
Naturally, many missions require quick action, and arrivals are made with haste. This is where helicopters come in as an essential form of transportation, both for the human heroes and those with paws.
When it comes to the dogs, it can take a little time to get used to the contraption that a chopper is. As such, the dogs undergo a special training in which their handlers help them through what’s essentially something of a deployment simulation.
While it must be noted that both the K9 SARA humans and dogs are extraordinarily courageous, there is also something beyond cute about seeing a search and rescue doggo in their kit; ready to save some lives (or at least, prepare to).
Take a look at some of the photos that the K9 SARA team shared:
Meanwhile, in more news from hero dogs, Guide Dogs recently enjoyed their graduation day and the beginning of a new life helping humans who need them.
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