Canine Search and Recovery, Inc.
Join us in advancing search dog training, networking and education.
About Canine Search and Recovery, Inc.
Our Mission
Canine Search and Recovery, Inc. -- an International Organization (CSAR), was incorporated in the fall of 1996. The purpose of the organization is to provide training, networking and education for search dog handlers and to promote the increased use of search dogs in all aspects of detection. CSAR has been granted non profit status from the Internal Revenue Service.
All breeds and types of search dogs are represented in CSAR's membership. Along with the "traditional" Bloodhounds, Shepherds, and Labradors, you will see Malinois, Border Collies, Kelpies, Rhodesian Ridgebacks, Golden Retrievers, mixed breeds and many, many more among the canines who own CSAR members.
Search work done by CSAR dog/handler teams cover all aspects of search and detection included but not limited to missing persons, evidence recovery, arson and Human Remains Detection (on land and on water). Annual seminars focus on missing people.
CSAR MEMBER OF THE MONTH- February 2025
Name/K9 Name
Angie Crary
K9 Oakley
Current SAR Team/affiliation:
WIK9SOS Search & Rescue
How long have you been a member of CSAR?
Since 2020
SAR Discipline(s)
Live Area and HRD
How long have you been in SAR?
8 years
Favorite thing(s) about SAR work?
"My favorite thing about SAR work is being given the opportunity to help people in need. Working with dogs, meeting great people and being part of a truly wonderful team are bonuses! "
Least favorite thing(s) about SAR work?
"My least favorite thing about SAR work is an unsuccessful search. Going home and not knowing, especially when it's a missing child, is the hardest part of SAR for me."
What do you do outside of SAR?
"I'm a mom of three adult boys and a teenager, so most of the time I stay busy with school and sport activities and 4H animal projects. I love spending time with family and if I can spend time with them while gardening, cooking, hiking, camping, shooting archery or hunting, even better!"
Something folks might not know about you.
" Ice cream is my favorite food!"
Let's get social - Do you have a blog? A personal website? Team website? Facebook? Team Website?
YOUR CSAR Board
About the Board
The Canine Search & Recovery, Inc. Board is comprised of the President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary and six Board members that serve for 2 year terms. Half elected each year by the vote of the membership.
Get Involved
There are many ways to get involved with CSAR.ORG (Canine Search and Recovery) as a member. You can run for a board position, attend or teach at an annual seminar, connect with and mentor others in your discipline, write newsletter content or even just be a sponge while starting out and much, much more!
Board Officers
Board Members
Newsletter Editor
Terri Slizewski - AL - Email
EVENTS
Upcoming 2025 CSAR Seminar
The upcoming CSAR seminar is being hosted by Red Dirt Oklahoma Search & Recovery and will be held Sunday, October 19 to October 24, 2025 at the Twin Cedars Camp in Guthrie, OK.
Classes/Lectures to include: Trailing, Air Scent, Land HRD, Water HRD, CGC testing opportunity and evening lectures.
Cost: $500 + $15 online registration fee for non-members, members get a discount.
Fee includes: 4 full days of instruction (M-TH), meals from Sunday evening through Friday morning, and accommodations onsite at camp.
Companions (not working a dog) and Observers: $250 + $15 online registration fee = $265.
All people attending MUST register through the registration system.
Registration for MEMBERS will open February 15, 2025 at 12:00 p.m. Central Time with registration for non-members a few weeks later on March 1, 2025 at 12:00 p.m. Central Time.
To get early member registration, you must have joined by October 31st of the previous year.
All current paid members get the $50 membership discount.
Check out all the details at: csar2025.org (More information available there.)
HISTORY
CSAR HISTORY - CSAR WAS FOUNDED IN 1996
The first CSAR Officers and Board Members in December 1996 were:
President: Tim Perry
Vice President: Jim Zarifis
Secretary: Patti Gibson
Treasurer: Bob Naskrent
Board of Directors: Fletcher Lewis, Tim Harbor, Ginger Branyon (2 year terms) and Garland Gilman, Mike Sullivan, Orval Banks (1 year terms).
Public Relations: Carolyn Knapp
Nominating Committee: Kent Warren, Joanie Kent, Sharon Naskrent, David Hancock, Rick Alexander (alternate) and Buddy Thurston (alternate).
Past Seminar Locations
2025 (coming in October) Guthrie, OK
2024 Rosholt, WI
2023 Jackson, OH
2022 Rhinelander, WI
2021 Jackson's Gap, AL
2020 cancelled due to COVID pandemic
2019 Townsend, TN
2018 cancelled due to hurricane
2017 Peninsula, OH
2016Rosholt, WI
2015 Jackson's Gap, AL
2014 Potosi, MO
2013 Jackson, OH
2012 Eureka, MO
2011 Rosholt, WI
2010 Guntersville, AL
2009 Jackson, OH
2008 Potosi, MO
2007 Black Mountain, NC
2006 Jackson, OH
2005 Prescott, AZ
2004 Guntersville, AL
2003 Black Mountain, NC
2002 Jackson, OH
2001 Camp Atterbury, IN
2000 Appomattox, VA (Spring)
2000 Hedgesville, WV (Fall)
1999 Appomattox, VA (Spring)
1999 Camp Marymount, TN (Fall)
1998 Black Mountain, NC (Fall)
1998 Appomattox, VA (Spring)
1997 Appomattox, VA (Spring)
In Memory of Those Lost
In Memory of Those Lost
Click below to go to our memorial page remembering those lost both human and K9. Content is continuing to be built as we gather the history.
MEMORIAL AWARDS AND SCHOLARSHIPS
The Bill Tolhurst Memorial Award
At the time of his death in 2005, Bill Tolhurst was one of the longest active working dog handlers in the country. Lawman and animal lover, Bill was recognized worldwide as one of the foremost authorities on mantrailing bloodhounds. His life of public service included many search and rescue operations, both human and animal. He did important and much needed research. His inventions to collect and preserve scent, his various training devices and techniques he developed were used by police agencies all over the world. He was a speaker, author and instructor and earned numerous awards of recognition and appreciation from agencies in the US, Canada and Australia.
In 2008, CSAR started the Bill Tolhurst Award. Bill was a pioneer in the search and rescue world, both as a volunteer and as law enforcement. Bill also paved the way with testimony in some of the very first court cases using search dog evidence. In keeping with Bill's love of teaching, willingness to help the newcomer and dedication to the SAR world, CSAR developed the award to be presented to members of CSAR who exemplify Bill's passion and generosity to the world of SAR.
To be nominated for this award, a person must have been a member of Canine Search & Recovery for at least 2 years and have attended at least one CSAR seminar. They must also have continuously gone above and beyond in giving back to the world of search and rescue through mentoring, training and their own canine work.
A letter of nomination stating how the person being nominated meets the criteria and standards set by the awards committee should be prepared and submitted to the Awards Committtee chairperson by June 30. The committee will review any and all nominations and announce recipient(s) at the annual meeting of Canine Search & Recovery.
Please submit to:
Carl Robinson - Awards Committee Chair (e-mail link in Board section)
CAROLYN KNAPP MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP FUND
For many years Carolyn Knapp was an integral part of CSAR and its seminars. We lost Carolyn to breast cancer in 2009 and the board could think of no better way than to create a seminar scholarship fund in her name. The fund will pay for at least one person to attend the CSAR seminar each year. The award will be given based on financial need, commitment to Canine SAR and commitment to CSAR. In order to apply, you must have been a CSAR member for at least one calendar year. The Awards Committee will be responsible for the application and award process. This fund was started with a donation from Supreme Master TV and the funds raised via Cindy Corcoran's "Pink" items raffle starting at the 2009 seminar in Ohio and continuing each year since. These monies and any donations made to the fund are used solely for the fund. Donations can be made specifically to sustain the fund and just need to be sent to the CSAR address, marked as CK Memorial Fund.
NOTE - The application deadline is January 31st each year. This application must be mailed to the address on the form. You will need to fill out a seminar registration form and send it in to secure your spot in the class you want. Note on the form that you are applying for the Knapp Scholarship. If awarded, CSAR will pay for the registration. If you do not receive the award, you will still be eligible for an early bird fee (if offered) if you still wish to attend.
THE ORVAL BANKS APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM
Orval was a constant at CSAR events, even when he wasn't working a dog. He believed in the importance of helping others refine their craft and passing on his knowledge to those willing to learn. CSAR was just putting this program together when Orval passed and we believe this program speaks of who Orval was and is a befitting legacy in his name.
The program is designed to promote an opportunity to gain experience in instructing. If you have ever thought you might like to instruct, but lack the experience and are worried that you aren't ready or sure, this is a great opportunity. If qualified, the candidate will apprentice under an experienced instructor in said discipline for the week at the CSAR seminar. You will work with the instructor creating "lesson plans for the week", setting up problems, help in problem solving K-9/handler issues, search strategy, and any items needed in your discipline. This is a great opportunity to start the teaching process with guidance and gain experience before taking on the task by yourself.
To qualify for this program, you must be a CSAR member for 3 consecutive years and have trained a SAR dog for at least 5 years. The candidate must have certified a dog in the discipline you are applying for with a certifying agency that meets or exceeds NIMS requirements and references from a team leader, as well as previous CSAR instructor in said discipline. We would ask that you submit a brief course outline or description of how/what the course would be taught at both beginner and intermediate class levels if you were the lead instructor. Registration (food and lodging) will be paid for by CSAR. The CSAR board will make the final decision and has the right to refuse any applicant for any reason. If you are interested, please fill out the application and send it in! We would love to see more CSAR members take the plunge and pass on their knowledge to their fellow members like Orval would want you to!
To help candidates with costs, CSAR has a raffle to help fund the program. Along with the already popular pink raffle to fund the Knapp scholarship program, the camouflage raffle helps fund the apprenticeship program to help candidates with travel expenses. These candidates will be donating their time to become instructors and will not be able to work their dogs the week of their apprenticeship. We encourage everyone to help support this effort by bringing a camouflage item to the next seminar.
BUDDY THURSTON MEMORIAL AWARD
DENVER HOLDER MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
An award, in memory of one of CSAR's founding and much loved members, will be given to any handler making their first find. Please send in your documentation to the Awards Committee Chairperson. The documentation includes copies of a witnessed trailing/working record, a letter of verification from the requesting agency and any other pertinent information. These handlers will be recognized at the next CSAR seminar. If you are unable to attend, your award will be mailed to you after the seminar.
Please submit to:
Carl Robinson - Awards Committee Chair (e-mail link in Board section)
DENVER HOLDER MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
DENVER HOLDER MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
DENVER HOLDER MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
***SEMINAR ONLY OPPORTUNITY***
The Denver Holder Memorial Scholarship will be awarded to a CSAR member that represents what Denver meant to the SAR community. The award includes a free seminar to the following year's seminar and is only good for one year.
One student, who is a CSAR member before the seminar opening, from each class will be picked by their instructor for showing leadership, mentorship, kindness, and the urge to learn and be a better SAR handler.
Names will be put into a drawing that will take place at the awards ceremony on the final evening of the seminar.
The handler must be present to win. We will draw up to three names, if none are present, the award will not be handed out that year.