Working Dogs For Conservation Foundation

WD4C DEPLOYS CONSERVATION DOGS IN FOUR CATEGORIES: 1) TO CARRY OUT ECOLOGICAL MONITORING; 2) TO PROMOTE BIOSECURITY AND COMBAT INVASIVE SPECIES; 3) TO STOP WILDLIFE CRIME; AND 4) TO PROMOTE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE. WD4C WORKS IN EACH OF THESE CATEGORIES THROUGH DIRECT IMPACT, INNOVATION, AND LEADERSHIP.

SINCE ITS INCEPTION, WD4C HAS COLLABORATED WITH MANAGERS, RESEARCHERS, AND CONSERVATIONISTS TO DETECT NEARLY 40 SPECIES AROUND THE COUNTRY AND WORLD. MANY OF THESE PROJECTS HAVE BEEN GROUND-BREAKING WITHIN THE REALM OF CONSERVATION BIOLOGY. WD4C PARTICIPATION AND CONTRIBUTIONS HAVE PROPELLED THE DISCIPLINE OF DETECTION DOGS FORWARD: FROM FINDING DIFFICULT AND NOVEL TARGETS LIKE A SUITE OF WIDE-RANGING CARNIVORES, ILLEGAL WIRE SNARES, INVASIVE PLANTS AND INSECTS, SUBTERRANEAN ANIMALS, AND EVIDENCE OF INVASIVE FISH IN FRESHWATER STREAMS, TO WD4C'S GROUND-BREAKING WORK USING DOGS TO DETECT ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINANTS IN FRESHWATER ECOSTYSTEMS.WD4C ALSO SAVES DOGS. WE RECOGNIZE THAT MANY OF THE TRAITS THAT PREVENT DOGS BEING SUITABLE PETS SUCH AS HIGH ENERGY AND TOY OBSESSION, CAN SIGNAL SIGNIFICANT POTENTIAL TO BE A HIGHLY SKILLED DETECTION DOG. RECENT WD4C ACHIEVEMENTS INCLUDE:-- IN 2014 WD4C AND CONSERVATION SOUTH LUANGWA (CSL) CREATED THE FIRST CONSERVATION CANINE UNIT IN ZAMBIA. THROUGHOUT 2022 AND 2023, WD4C ESTABLISHED THE THIRD GENERATION OF DOGS FOR DELTA TEAM, CSLS ELITE CANINE UNIT. WE ARE EXCITED TO TRACK THEIR IMPACTS AT THEIR DUTY STATIONS IN ZAMBIA. ADDITIONALLY, WD4C THROUGHOUT 2023 BROUGHT FOUR CSL HANDLERS TO THE STATES TO SUPPORT THEIR HANDLER EDUCATION AND TRAINING, AS WELL AS PROVIDED TRAINING IN TACTICAL EMERGENCY FIELD CARE FOR THEIR K9 PARTNERS. THIS WAS A FANTASTIC OPPORTUNITY TO COLLABORATE INTERNATIONALLY AND TO BETTER UNDERSTAND WORKING DOG TRAINING, HEALTH AND WELFARE IN ZAMBIA AND AFRICA IN GENERAL. AS ALWAYS, THE INFORMATION GAINED DURING THIS PROJECT IS SHARED WITH ALL ANTI-POACHING K9 UNITS IN AFRICA.-- WD4C PARTNERED WITH THE SAOLA FOUNDATION TO TRAIN THE WORLDS FIRST SAOLA DETECTION DOGS. NORMAN AND BERTIE, BOTH SPANIELS, TRAINED IN THE USA AND THEN SETTLED IN THE ANNAMITE MOUNTAINS OF LAO PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC. THIS WILL BE THEIR NEW HOME FOR AT LEAST TWO YEARS AS THEY SEARCH FOR POPULATIONS OF SAOLA. POSSIBLY THE WORLDS RAREST TERRESTRIAL MAMMAL, THESE RELATIVES OF WILD CATTLE ARE SHY AND ELUSIVE AND HAVE NOT BEEN RECORDED IN THE WILD SINCE 2013.--WEVE ALSO ADDED NEW CAPACITY TO THE ORGANIZATION. MOST PEOPLE THINK OF DOGS SUPERPOWERS IN TERMS OF DETECTION, BUT WE KNOW THEY CAN DO SO MUCH MORE. THROUGHOUT 2023, WE DEVELOPED THE ORGANIZATIONS VERY OWN OLFACTOMETER WHICH HAS ENABLED US TO CONTINUE FURTHERING DOGS ABILITY TO DISCRIMINATE (TO TELL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TWO VERY SIMILAR SCENTS LIKE A DISEASED ANIMAL VS. AN UNINFECTED ONE) AND TRACKING (TO FOLLOW AN INDIVIDUAL THROUGH A COMPLEX LANDSCAPE). -- WD4C HAS BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH OUR PARTNER ORGANIZATION, INDIGENOUS VISION, TO EVALUATE WILDLIFE'S EXPOSURE TO HEAVY METALS, ENDOCRINE DISRUPTORS (FROM PLASTIC WASTE AND FLAME RETARDANTS), DISCARDED PHARMACEUTICALS, SARS-COV-2, PFAS, AND CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE ON THE BLACKFEET NATION RESERVATION. WITH THIS INFORMATION IN HAND, THE TRIBAL GOVERNMENT CAN MAKE THE BLACKFEET NATION SAFER FOR ITS WILDLIFE AND THE PEOPLE WHO DEPEND ON WILDLIFE AND WILD PLACES FOR FOOD AND TRADITIONAL USES.LOOKING INTO NEXT YEAR, WEVE GOT EXCITING THINGS ON THE HORIZON, FROM DEEPENING OUR ROOTS IN MISSOULA, MT WITH VOLUNTEER DAYS, NEW CULTURAL CONNECTIONS, AND LOCALLY IMPORTANT WORK ON GRIZZLY BEARS, WOLVES AND BIGHORN SHEEP; TO BEING PART OF MONTANAS FIGHT AGAINST DISEASES SUCH COVID-19 AND CWD. WE ARE PROUD TO BE A FORCE FOR GOOD AND TO SUPPORT THE PEOPLE, WILDLIFE, AND WILD PLACES THAT CONTINUALLY HAVE GIVEN US HOPE AND INSPIRATION.