Northeast Search and Rescue

08/26/2026

Happy National Dog Day from all of us at NESAR! 🐾
Today, we’re sending extra treats, belly rubs, and love to the four-legged heroes who make our search and rescue mission possible.
Our K9 team members aren't just beloved companions—they are highly skilled, dedicated air-scent, trailing, and human remains detection specialists. Rain or shine, day or night, these dogs put their noses to the ground and their hearts into every single deployment to bring loved ones home.
To our handler-and-K9 teams: thank you for the countless hours of training, mud, sweat, and devotion you give to our community.
How you can celebrate with us today:
Drop a photo of your own rescue pups or favorite fur-babies in the comments below!
Give your dog an extra big hug (and maybe a secret piece of bacon).
Share this post to help raise awareness for local volunteer Search and Rescue K9 teams.
Thank you for supporting our working dogs as they train hard to keep our community safe!

08/24/2026

Huge thanks to the Pocono Irish American Club for presenting us with a check from your June Golf Outing!
They say a good walk spoiled is just a round of golf, but you turned bad drives and lost balls into actual life-saving support for Northeast Search and Rescue. Thanks to your generosity, our volunteers are better equipped, trained, and ready to find anyone who gets lost, on or off the fairway.
To every golfer, sponsor, and club member who chipped in: thank you for having our backs so we can protect our community!

08/21/2026

It is with heavy hearts that Northeast Search and Rescue shares the unexpected passing of K9 Blue, beloved partner of Marc Lemoi.

Blue was Marc’s first certified Search and Rescue K9 partner, but to those of us who had the privilege of knowing him, he was so much more than a working dog.

We all adored Blue’s goofy personality. He was sweet, endlessly happy, and always ready to make a new friend. His friendly, easygoing nature made him a wonderful ambassador for Search and Rescue, while his dedication in the field represented the work ethic and partnership that define a SAR K9.

Blue served his community alongside Marc, helping to bring his skills wherever they were needed. But just as importantly, he brought smiles, laughter, and friendship to the people around him. He was one of those dogs you simply couldn’t help but love.

Our hearts are with Marc and his family as they grieve the loss of a loyal partner, best friend, and much-loved family member.

Thank you for your service, Blue, and for all the joy you brought to the NESAR family.

E.O.W. 8/18/2026. 🐾💙

08/20/2026

NEASAR needs your help to cross the finish line! Winning this grant will make an incredible difference for our team, but we can't do it without you.
It takes less than 60 seconds to support us:
1️⃣ Click the link below 👇
2️⃣ Cast your vote for Bandos
3️⃣ Share this post to help us spread the word!
Every single vote counts. The entire team greatly appreciates your support! 🧡

Top Pets: Discover your new favorite pets!

08/17/2026

🐾Quick favor…….please vote for Bandos! If Bandos wins, Northeast Search and Rescue receives a $10,000 donation!

We’re an all-volunteer nonprofit providing search and rescue services to our community, so $10,000 would be HUGE for our team and take some of the financial pressure off keeping us trained, equipped, and operational.

Voting takes just a moment, and every single vote matters — only the #1 dog advances! If you could take a second to vote for Bandos (and even share the link), we would sincerely appreciate it. ❤️🐾

A couple clicks for you could mean $10,000 for our team. Thank you!! Please vote for my pet in the Top Pets competition 🤩

Top Pets: Discover your new favorite pets!

08/16/2026

📣 NESAR Member of the month…..Meet Gillian Schwartz, our Board President and K9 Handler, who has brought her calm leadership to Search & Rescue for 12 incredible years. Inspired by her teammates and a passion for the outdoors, her proudest moment remains the day her K9 partner made their very first find!📣

Name:
Gillian Schwartz

Years in SAR:
12

Years with the Team:
12

Team Role(s):
President of the Board and K9 Handler

Occupation (your “real life” job!):
Certified Pharmacy Technician

Why did you join Search & Rescue?
I’ve always loved the outdoors and wanted to put my skills toward a cause that truly makes a difference.

Favorite training or deployment memory: The first time my dog made a find on a search.

What keeps you motivated?
My teammates keep me motivated. We all come from different walks of life, but that shared commitment to the mission unites us every time.

One word that describes you on a call-out: Calm

Advice for new members:
Don't rush through your training. Strong foundations are important.

08/15/2026

🐾Meet Stormy, our K9 of the month. A playful, affectionate, and high-drive 5-year-old German Shepherd who has been working hard as a Wilderness Air Scent K9 for the past five years. Driven by the thrill of the hunt and a big playtime party after a successful find, this eager pup is always standing by! 🐾

K9 Name:
Stormy

Breed:
German Shepherd (Female)

Age:
5 years old
Working Discipline(s): Wilderness air scent

Years Working Together: 5 years

What motivates your K9 most?
Having a job to do and being rewarded after finding the subject, basically having a party with playtime

What is your K9’s strongest skill in the field? Giving Stormy direction so she can work independently,

Describe your K9’s personality in 3 words: Playful, affectionate, & drive

Favorite training or deployment memory: Training at a sky resort, while the subject hid for stormy, we had a large search area where we were working. Two hikers were coming down the mountain. While this was happening, Stormy caught scent from the hikers and thank goodness they are not fearful of my dog while she ran up to them, came back to me to let me know she found someone. I learned to reward my dog even though it wasn't the right subject. Set her back up to continue to search for her subject. Loved this training because it taught me new things I didn't experience in any other trainings.

Favorite off-duty activity:
Hiking and taking her swimming

Funny quirk or habit:
My dog is not a howler but, If you howl at her, she will howl back

What has your K9 taught the team?
No matter the difficulty of some trainings, even if they don't get it right, you can always find another solution and work on it. I learned to read my dog when she's in human scent. I know she's taught me alot, probably more than I taught her.

If your K9 could talk before a search, what would they say?
I'm ready, can I go now, can I go now?!!

07/12/2026

⛑️This weekend, Northeast Search and Rescue hosted a Water Rescue Emergency Response (WRER) course, bringing together several of our newest members, along with guests from the Delaware Water Gap Fire Department and PA-SARRT. We also had a number of experienced NESAR members attend as a refresher, ensuring these important perishable skills remain sharp.

The WRER course provides first responders with a strong foundation in water safety, including practical hands-on training in self-rescue and shore-based swiftwater rescue techniques. These skills are critical for keeping both rescuers and victims safe during water-related emergencies.

A huge thank you to everyone who participated and demonstrated a commitment to continuing education and preparedness. The more we train, the better equipped we are to serve our communities when they need us most.

07/07/2026

‼️Meet Katie Heil, a dedicated new addition to our team! As an Army Veteran, former volunteer firefighter, and current RN, Katie joined us six months ago to combine her passion for helping others with her love for the outdoors. She already serves as a SARTECH III, K9 Handler in Training, and Medical Committee Member—always "willing" to tackle any task to help reunite families. ⛑️

Name: Katie Heil

Years in SAR: 6 months

Years with the Team: 6 months

Team Role(s): SARTECH III, K9 Handler in Training, Medical Committee Member

Occupation (your “real life” job!): RN

Why did you join Search & Rescue? As a former volunteer firefighter and Army Veteran, I have always been drawn to helping people. I joined search and rescue because of that drive to serve combined with my love of being in the great outdoors.

Favorite training or deployment memory: 6/16/26 - My first find. Knowing I helped a family be reunited with their loved one is a feeling I won't soon forget.

What keeps you motivated? Knowing that I am helping reunite families or provide closure.

One word that describes you: Willing - There is no task too great or small. I am always willing to help and/or learn. Put me in, coach!

Advice for new members: Ask A LOT of questions! You don't know what you don't know until you start asking all the questions. Never stop learning!