SGSD Inc was founded in 1999 by Rod Gilchrist and Janet Fowler in Albany, Georgia, with the purpose to group highly motivated and trained individuals to respond to emergency situations.

In 2000, the Columbus, Ga. unit was created to fill a need for trained search and rescue dogs, in the Columbus, Ga. area. Both units come together on a monthly basis for training.

In 2005, Mike and Heidy Drawdy joined by establishing the Thomasville, Ga. unit of South Georgia SearchDogs. Both units come together on a monthly basis for training.

This is an amazing story about a dog that seems to be carving out his own destiny.

After her car tumbled down an embankment on a remote road, a Georgia woman, Shannon Lorio, was thrown backward so that her upper body was on the trunk with her feet over the rear seat.

Remembering the incident she said, "I was bleeding from my face and my nose. All of a sudden, I felt a presence—a really huge presence. He was straddling me. I have watched too many horror movies about werewolves and vampires. I thought he was going to eat me."

Instead she had been found by a two year old runaway German Shepherd. He licked her face, pulled her off the trunk by her collar and dragged her about 50 yards through briars to the edge of a highway. Leaning against him she was able to stand up and flag a passing motorist.

The dog was taken to the Humane Society where the previous owner signed off on him because he was always running away.

Lorio can’t adopt the dog that she calls Hero because she has six dogs, two adopted children, and three children of her own, but because of the publicity, over 50 people have offered to take him.

However, Hero seems to be destined for a higher purpose in life than just to be somebody’s pet.

Been there, done that, ran away.

Enter Heidy Drawdy, a veteran dog trainer. She thinks that Hero may have the qualities to become a search and rescue dog. Hero will move in with Drawdy, her husband and their two search dogs where he will be given obedience training and learn to socialize with other dogs, children and senior citizens. He will be exposed to the noise and excitement of emergency vehicles to see if he qualifies for advanced training.

"Right off the bat, he showed signs of having natural talent," said Drawdy. "We'd like to see if we can give him a job because obviously he's meant for something special."