WASHINGTON, IOWA—Brava Roof Tile, a leading manufacturer of high-performance synthetic roofing, has joined forces with the Search Dog Foundation (SDF) to improve disaster response training. This collaboration is enhancing how search-and-rescue dogs prepare for real-world emergency scenarios by integrating Brava’s durable roofing tiles into SDF’s state-of-the-art training center in Santa Paula, Calif.
The Search Dog Foundation was founded in response to the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995, a tragedy that revealed the nation’s lack of highly trained canine search teams. Since then, SDF has grown into a premier national training organization, preparing rescued dogs and first responders for the most challenging search-and-rescue missions. When SDF teams returned from the 2023 Turkey-Syria earthquake response, they identified a critical gap in their training: the absence of realistic collapsed roof simulations. To address this need, Brava Roof Tile stepped in to donate its synthetic roofing tiles, allowing SDF to construct training props that accurately replicate disaster conditions. These tiles, such as Brava’s Spanish Barrel tile, provide a durable and realistic surface for search dogs to train on, helping them build confidence and agility in navigating unstable environments.
Brava recognized that the work of the Search Dog Foundation saves lives, and by providing materials for realistic training scenarios, hoped to contribute to the readiness of these elite canine teams. “Hearing what this team is capable of, we knew we had to help,” said Aaron Sholl, Sales Manager at Brava Roof Tile. “These dogs and handlers could be deployed anywhere at a moment’s notice, and we wanted to ensure their training was as realistic as possible.”
The impact of BRAVA’s contribution is already evident. With the addition of these new training props, SDF has been able to simulate collapsed roof conditions more effectively, allowing dogs to track scents through debris and navigate shifting surfaces with greater precision. “The Brava tile prop creates highly challenging roof collapse scenarios with slippery, shifting surfaces,” explained Denise Sanders, Senior Director of Communications at SDF. “This partnership enables us to better prepare our teams for real-world disaster deployments.”
Beyond improving training conditions, this collaboration aligns with Brava’s mission of supporting sustainability and community resilience. Many of the dogs trained by SDF come from shelters, given a second chance at life as elite search-and-rescue animals.
To learn more about Brava and Aspire Pavers’ product portfolio, visit bravarooftile.com and aspirepavers.com.
