Sunday, February 1, 2026

Israel Dog Unit (IDU) Saving lives in Israel with service dogs, drones and more

 Bs’d


The Israel Dog Unit (IDU)

Saving Lives in Israel with Service Dogs, Drones and More!

Search & Rescue and Security

The Israel Dog Unit (IDU) is a national civilian canine corps that specializes in Search and Rescue and Security operations using service dogs, drones, foot patrols, ATVs and horses, while employing cutting-edge, proprietary technologies to find, rescue and protect Jewish lives. We operate in both urban and wildland settings to locate missing persons stranded in even the harshest environments. We integrate seamlessly with all civilian and government agencies, including the police, army and other emergency services, such as MADA, ZAKA, Hatzala, Yedidim and more.

Michlelet Magen Eretz Yisrael, the IDU’s state-of-the-art national headquarters and training campus is located in Kfar Tapuach, where dogs and handlers drill daily to update and hone their skills, and drone operators are instructed at both fundamental and advanced levels in deploying the latest technology to locate missing persons. Many of our volunteers reside on the Tapuach base, available 24/7 year-round to respond to any contingency.

In addition to the unit’s main base and training center in Kfar Tapuach, the IDU also maintains a second facility in the Galilee, adjacent to Tzfat and Mount Meron, further enhancing its ability to respond immediately to any emergency that might arise.






A LIFE CHANGING EXPERIENCE

However, a stroll about the unit’s campus in Tapuach reveals more than just volunteers, staff and a regular cohort of curious visitors. Lone soldiers and new olim to Israel can also be found there, all of whom find time to contribute meaningfully to the betterment and smooth running of the IDU’s indispensable life-saving operations.

Beyond its long inventory of professional achievements, the Israel Dog Unit also prides itself on the success it has logged in turning numerous at-risk youth into mature and responsible citizens who excel as both dog handlers and drone operators – many of whom have moved on from the unit to build successful careers and families, spurred on by the discipline, experience and grit they learned from the IDU’s demanding daily regimen.

The unit also conducts free dog shows for individuals with special needs, as well as children whose families are victims of Arab terror or who have been orphaned as result of the most recent conflicts in the State of Israel.



OUR PARTNERS AND COLLEAGUES

The IDU’s rapid response teams are on call to deploy immediately upon request from the Israel Police, the IDF, the Fire Department or families of missing persons who require critical assistance in locating their loved ones.

      

They also respond to urgent requests for security relief, and have an established record of tracking and disabling terrorists before they’re able to claim innocent lives.

The unit’s distinguished history and reputation are built on the close ties it maintains with its local strategic partners as well as colleagues and experts from around the world, relationships that the IDU regularly leverages to offer seminars and workshops in dog training, first aid, tracking, fieldcraft and self-defense.

If you want to become a part by volunteering, donating, subscribing to our newsletter or receiving missing person alerts, please click on the appropriate links, or —

Send an email to mikecanine@gmail.com

Or call:
In Israel — 054-487-6709
In the USA — 1-917-299-2270
If you wish to report a missing person, call our HOTLINE at — 054-487-6709.

To view recommendations and testimonials from the Israel Police, Fire Department, IDF or from actual missing persons and their families, please contact us (as listed above) or click HERE.
To see a list of missing persons yet to be found, click HERE.

DONATIONS

If you can't volunteer, please help sponsor the training and life-saving operations of the IDU – Israel's lead SAR unit.

  1. Donations by check can be sent to Am Yisrael Chai Fund, 400 5th Avenue Cedarhurst, NY 11516
    (Please note that your donation is being made on behalf of the dog rescue unit.)


  2. To donate ONLINE, please click HERE (or copy and paste this link: https://www.amyisroelchai.com/searchandrescue)  **Be sure to scroll down the menu to ensure the donation is registered on behalf of the Israel Dog Unit - יחידת הכלבנים לישראל **

    If you are not in need of a 501c3 receipt, then donations can be made directly to our Amutah     Charity in Israel by the following means:


  3. Direct Deposit or wire transfer to the Israeli charity:

    "Michlellet Magen Eretz Yisrael"
    Bank Mizrahi Tefachot
    Branch: Karnei Shomron branch # 483
    Account # 405437


  4. If sending a wire from outside of Israel:

    “Michlellet Magen Eretz Yisrael”
    Iban code: IL28 0204-8300-0000-0405-437
    Code for Bank Mizrahi Tefachot:
    MIZBILITXXX


  5. To donate directly by credit card, click the following link: https://pci.zcredit.co.il/webcontrol/FastPaymentHandler.ashx?Guid=357f6843-3a23-e911-9761-026c2fdef2f1


  6. To donate by Paypal, click here: https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=FM73XZ4V8GHFG&source=url

NEWS AND HEADLINES


To read or watch recent news and headlines on IDU operations, please click on the links below:

36 hours with the Israel Dog Unit:

ILTV Special on the IDU:

IDU Exercise With Special Forces:

Itamar Schlesinger found after 2 years of searching:

Yeshiva student found dead in Yarkon River:

Search for Jewish woman in the North continues:

Man found dead in Haifa by IDU dog-handler:

IDU rescues two Jewish girls from their Arab father:
Last Wednesday, two 15-year-old girls (with Jewish moms and Arab fathers) went missing from their Haifa dormitory. The IDU succeeded in rescuing the girls and returning them to their mothers' custody before they entered into the Arab village of Silwan, where one of the fathers resides. 

IDU trains with IDF Special forces:

IDU helps find and rescue two missing people, one near Meron, the other in Beth Shemesh:

Great I24 TV special on the IDU:

IDU exhibition for Shomron school:

IDU holds dog show for special needs kids:

Israel Dog Unit holds special needs exhibition ahead of Yom Kippur:
On Tuesday, the Israel Dog Unit (IDU), a nonprofit specializing in working dogs, organized a heartfelt event for children with special needs in advance of Yom Kippur.

IDF seeks cooperation from IDU to train Hilltop Youth in canine security skills and more:

Terrorist from Kfar Yona apprehended after 3 day man-hunt, IDU plays central role in his search and capture:

IDU Tracking Course:

IDU holds a dog show for hundreds of special needs children in Kiryat Malachi:



IDU renews searches for multiple missing people in Zefat caves and forests:

Bnai Akiva joins IDU in search for Yoram Fleeter:

Friday night rescue in Jerusalem:
The Israel Dog Unit (IDU), a nonprofit organization specializing in working dogs for search and rescue, successfully located a missing woman at risk after an all-night search operation last Friday night in Jerusalem.


Knesset advances historic bill to aid families of missing people:

Rescue dogs search for victims at Iranian missile strike scene
The Israel Dog Unit is working with other emergency services to detect any Israelis trapped under the
rubble from the Iranian missile strikes in central Israel.

Great channel 14 interview with Yekutiel. It is Hebrew but dog performance needs no words- attached:
see attached video.

Video from yesterday's rubble site:

Another video showing the dog work and the incredible damage:

 IDU dog on the site, indicating for a trapped missing victim:


   









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Tuesday, February 7, 2023

Disgusting criminals rob car of IDU medic who came to save lives - Campaign to buy a replacement vehicle

 

Heartless criminals steal IDU medic's vehicle during life-saving treatment

Campaign to buy replacement vehicle



 

Shmuel Segal, the volunteer commander of IDU's Galil District, came to save the life of a victim who was shot near Zefat.

Shmuel left his family and dashed out in the rain-storm after receiving an urgent call that someone was shot and seriously injured near the Ahbara Junction.

Shmuel was one of the first to arrive at the scene, and was asked by the ambulance crew to join them on their journey to the nearby Ziv Hospital, as Shmuel was offering life-saving treatment to the injured victim.

Shmuel jumped into the ambulance leaving behind the IDU emergency vehicle; the only IDU response vehicle for the entire Zefat-Miron region.

After dropping the victim off at the hospital, Shmuel returned with the ambulance to pick up the car. The car was gone.

No words could properly describe Shmuel's anguish - that while he was risking his life to save a man who was shot and wounded, heartless criminals would rob the unit's vehicle.

There was life-saving IDU equipment in the car as well as medical equipment and personal property connected to Shmuel's dog business.

Dear friends, I appeal to you to open your hearts. Remember this vehicle serves as our only emergency vehicle for the entire region which was used to responds to IDU missing person emergencies, security emergencies and medical calls.

The IDU receives no government funding, despite being the lead Search and Rescue unit in the land.

We are appealing to the general public to help sponsor a replacement vehicle, fully equipped with all of the necessary equipment.

The goal of the campaign is to raise 50,000 dollars.

Thank you, with love of Israel,

Yekutiel (Mike) Ben Yaakov – Tel 0544876709

Email: mikecanine@gmail.com

Find here the bank information for the Amutah- Michllelet Magen Eretz Yisrael

Bank: Mizrahi Tefachot

Branch: Karnie Shomron, Israel: 483

Account number: 405437

Funds can also be donated through our website:

www.israeldogunit.com

http://israeldogs.blogspot.com/2020/08/emergency-crowd-funding-campaign-for.html?m=1

 

  

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הזוי - מפקד יכ"ל גליל בא להציל חיים - וגנבו לו את הרכב - קמפיין לקנות רכב חדש

בע"ה

רוע לב, הזוי:  בא להציל חיים, וגנבו לו את הרכב

אמש, בשעות הלילה, במזג אויר גשום וסוער, שמואל סגל, מפקד יכ"ל (יחידת הכלבנים לישראל) גליל קיבל קריאה בקשר על פצוע ירי במחלף עכברה.

שמואל עזב את הכל, ויצא במהירות מביתו בצפת, כדי להציל את חייו של פצוע ירי.



בהגיעו למקום, היה מהכוננים הראשונים, והתבקש על ידי צוות האמבולנס להצטרף לפינוי לבית החולים זיו, תוך כדי החייאת הפצוע.

שמואל השאיר את הרכב (הרכב הכונן היחיד של יחידת יכ"ל בגזרה).

לאחר סיום הפינוי של הפצוע לבית החולים, שמואל חזר עם האמבולנס בכדי לאסוף את הרכב, וזה פשוט לא היה שם.

אין לתאר את עוגמת הנפש של שמואל על כך שבזמן שחירף את נפשו להצלת חיי פצוע אנוש מירי, אנשים חסרי לב גנבו את הרכב של היחידה.

ברכב היה ציודו המציל חיים של שמואל שמשמש מפקד וכונן ביכ"ל, וגם ציוד אישי של כלבנות טיפולית בה הוא עוסק. וגם ציוד חרום רפואי שמשמש את בתור כונן במד"א.

חברים יקרים, אנא אני קורא מכל לב, פיקחו עיניים, במידה ואתה מזהים רכב מסוג רנו קנגו לבן עם גגון שחור, לוחית זיהוי: 4654264, צרו קשר מייד עם מוקד 100 ועם מוקד יכ"ל – 0544876709



ש לציין שהרכב הזה הוא משמש את שמואל בקריאות חרום של יכ"ל - יחידת הכלבנים, הן באירועי נעדרים בסיכון, הן באירועים בטחוניים, והן באירועים רפואיים.

יכ"ל אינה מתוקצבת משום משרד ממשלתי, למרות היותה היחידה המובילה בתחום איתור נעדרים ברחבי ישראל.

אנו פונים אל הציבור הרחב לסייע במימון רכב חדש ליכ"ל גליל, המצוייד עם כל הציודים הנדרשים.

יעד הקמפיין הוא 180,000 שח.

להלן פרטי החשבון של העמותה: מכללת מגן ארץ ישראל – בנק מזרחי טפחות, סניף 483 – קרני שומרון. מספר חשבון: 405437

אפשר לתרום דרך האתר:

www.israeldogunit.com

http://www.israeldogunit.com/Donations.html

באהבת ישראל,

 

יקותיאל (מייק) בן יעקב, מפקד יכ"ל


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Wednesday, May 12, 2021

"The Arabs are more frightened of one dog than 20 cops."

    

On social media outlets, Arab forums in Lod expressed shock and anger about the Israel Dog Unit (I.D.U.) canine teams that deployed in Lod to help quell the Arab riots and to protect the besieged Jewish residents. 


Over the past few days Arabs have been rioting, burning Jewish property, beating Jews and torching synagogues and Jewish institutions in major cities throughout Israel with mixed Arab and Jewish populations, such as Jerusalem, Acco and Ramla.

    Lod however, has been hit the hardest. There, many Jews were so intimidated by the violent Arab mobs, that they remained in their homes, frightened to leave even to seek safety from missiles launched from Gaza, despite the code red sirens that were sounded as deadly rockets landed nearby.

  

  The  IDU which is better known for the their Search and Rescue operations to find missing people were called into Lod by community leaders and local residents to help protect Jews and Jewish institutions.  Local residents cheered on the IDU canines and volunteers  as well as Yeshiva students who came from Yitzhar in the Shomron. David Ostreicher, a local yeshiva student said, "How ironic that these "brave" cowards cower before the dogs, hey, whatever works. The Arabs are more frightened of one dog than 20 cops." On social media outlets, Arab forums in Lod expressed shock and anger about the Israel Dog Unit (I.D.U.) canine teams that deployed in Lod to help quell the Arab riots and to protect the besieged Jewish residents.                     

     

                    (See here the video on the right which caused a stir on many Arab media forums as seen in the WhatsApp screenshot on the left.)


"The IDU has yet to turn down any call for help" says Mike Ben-Yaakov, commander of the IDU, "How can we turn our back on the many who cried out for our help?" Moshe C a local 91 year old Holocaust survivor whom the IDU escorted out of Lod into safety - after a petrol bomb was hurled near his home - said, "this pogrom is reminiscent of Krystall-nacht, I never thought I would live through this again in Eretz Israel."

    The dogs were not the only ones who came to Lod last night. PM Netanyahu also arrived on the scene to show solidarity.

    Thank G-d, IDU dogs and handlers arrived home safely, however, one of the vehicles was hit, not by rocks, but by shrapnel from a Hamas rocket launched from Gaza that was intercepted overhead.


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Sunday, December 6, 2020

Israel dog unit thwarting terror, finding missing people, enlisting human-planes and more

 Israel Channel 11 airs a great 7-minute piece featuring the IDU

Checkout the below link of TV special on IDU– with English subtitles.


Shabbat earthquake felt in Israel raises concerns at IDU HQ
An earthquake that struck Turkey Saturday afternoon was felt in parts of northern Israel.
The epicenter of the temblor was offshore near the Turkish city of Alanya. There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage anywhere. Residents in northern Israel reported feeling the quake.

The IDU continues to ready its search dogs and volunteers for a potential earthquake. "Better to be ready, than to be caught off guard. In Israel, we are the best at responding to emergencies only after they have already happened. The fact is - that if scientists are right and Israel soon experiences a more severe earthquake, G-d forbid, thousands of bodies and thousands of additional people, still alive, could be trapped under the rubble. Massive rocket attacks could wreak similar havoc. Every operational search and rescue dog that is properly trained by the IDU, can save many, many lives," said Moshe Ben Israel, IDU spokesperson.





IDU security dogs and handlers fight off Arab marauders at Ariel outpost until IDF arrives
Nov 30, approximately 80 Arabs attacked 3 Jews on a new government authorized farm-village near Ariel. The Arabs injured one of the Jewish farmers and caused thousands of dollars of damages to  the Jewish property after hurling fire-bombs at vehicles and equipment. The farmers called the IDF, Police and IDU for help. The IDU arrived first on the scene after three handlers and security dogs were dispatched from the nearby Tapuach IDU HQ. The dogs and handlers "made seder" - diffused the mayhem, pushing back the Arab attackers, until the IDF arrived.




Thwarting terror attacks – aiding IDF at checkpoints with weapons-sniffing IDU service dogs
Nov 24, the Israeli media reported that Arabs planted several roadside bombs in the Binyamin Region, near Shilo and Kochav Hashachar. In wake of the Arab attacks, the Israel Dog Unit was asked to provide a canine team - dog and handler to help detect guns and explosives at busy Shomron Junction Checkpoints. See attached photos.




IDU helps apprehend Arab spy – collecting sensitive security information on "settlement" and army security installations in Gush Etzyon
Nov. 19, military censors allowed to publicize the apprehension of several Arab terrorists who were plotting to commit terrorist attacks in the Gush Etzyon Region. Several months ago the IDU conducted a successful surveillance operation and ambush with specially trained dogs, playing a key role in the detection and arrest of an Arab terrorist who had been filming Judean towns and security installations. This all occurred several months before the current headline hit the press and passed through military censorship. Unfortunately, we are not at liberty to share pics of the apprehension of the Arab terror suspect.




IDU finds and rescues missing people
This month we succeeded in saving the lives of at least three missing people, one of whom is a professor at University of Haifa who had gone missing in the wilderness behind his home in Nesher. Another, a former professor of psychology who recently had a stroke that left him with cognitive impairment and degeneration.

The IDU continues to provide free shows on behalf of special needs children and adults
Nov 9th the Efrat branch of the IDU held a special dog-show for special needs kids and adults in Efrat. Chanukah, another big IDU show on behalf of special-needs children and adults is planned for Modiin Elite's 'Notnim" organization.



Nov. 8th IDU delivered another dog to the Lial Pre- Military Academy in the Jordan Valley
The joint program between the IDU and the Lial Pre-military Academy kicked off another year of a joint program in which the IDU provides dogs and training to cadets at Lial, who in turn volunteer  their services on security and SAR operations. The IDU dispatched "Juno" a feisty Belgium Shepherd to the Lial Academy. Achiya, Talmon and Bat Ayin have requested security dogs. The IDU hopes to dispatch new dogs to these areas, and to deploy them with security personnel there to begin their advanced training, to provide much needed additional security to these towns.




The IDU HQ provided a drone and a new drone course to Gush Etzyon IDU branch
Nov. 5th after adding an additional drone to the IDU's fleet of drones, the unit placed a drone with the Gush Etzyon-Efrat branch, and enlisted six new future "pilots" from Efrat-Gush Etzyon. The new "pilots in training" entered a course that will provide them with the necessary knowledge and skills to fly the drones on security and SAR operations. 

Motorized Person Plane
IDU adds PPR Motorized Person Planes
The newest addition to the IDU is not a bird and it's not a plane but rather a motorized-person-plane. This new department will surely boost the IDU capabilities on searches for missing people or detection of suspicious movement on the ground below, enabling the IDU to hover close to the ground and fly as far as 100 kilometers covering area far quicker and further than drones could,while swiftly covering ground that we might not be able to cover completely with horses, dogs and jeeps 


 

Article about IDU in 'Yisrael Hayom', Israel's largest daily newspaper, Dec. 4th 2020, L'Minyanam

THE IDU is in DESPERATE NEED of additional FINANCIAL SUPPORT during these difficult and challenging Corona Virus times. There are more security and SAR emergencies than ever. In many instances we are the first and last line of defense for many towns that rely upon us to help prevent terror attacks and infiltrations. With regard to search and rescue of missing people the IDU continues to save lives and to provide a service that no other unit is able to provide.

Please make a generous contribution to help save lives in Israel with the IDU.


To join the IDU or to donate to the emergency crowdfunding campaign to raise urgently needed funds to keep the unit 
afloat please visit and forward the link to the emergency crowd funding campaign.



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Friday, October 30, 2020

IDU News: Israel Dog Unit receives awards, and continues to find missing people and to defend the people of Israel

Since our last news brief, the last few weeks have been majorly successful ones for the Israel Dog Unit.
 
IDU Recieves award from Bnai Brak Police Chief Oct 27 Lminyanam
For finding missing person Chaim Weizman Levi (alive) in Tel Aviv Oct 7.



IDU briefs and directs IDF soldiers and police during Carmiel search Oct 26.

After more than 24 hours of searching for 24 yr old Doron Reichsveld in The Hilazone Valley, Carmiel, police called in the IDU to run the search. Carmiel Police Commander of Operations called Mike Ben-Yaakov, the head of the IDU asking for him for help saying: "Mike, we have tried everything and Doron is nowhere to be found, we even sent in police canines, we need your help." Mike immediately headed out from the Tapuach base to Carmiel. 

Upon arrival, the police chief of Carmiel requested that the IDU take over the search and put at the IDU's disposal dozens of IDF troops from the Home Front Command who were also sent in to assist. Mike sent out several search teams, each with a IDU tracking dog and handler at the head. Within 40 minutes of their deployment, the missing person's body was recovered dead in the valley.






Unit continues expanding at unprecedented speed
The building in the Tapuach base is continuing to facilitate the rapid growth of the unit. And the purchase of an additional drone brings our drone fleet to four, two of which have sophisticated thermal imaging cameras enabling night-time searches.

IDU now officially receives recognition to enlist volunteers into National Service
Sherut Leumi - the government branch responsible for all national service volunteers, now offers thousands of youth, age 18 to 23, the option to fulfil their national service in the IDU - Israel Dog Unit. Our first three national-service volunteers joined hundreds of non-commisioned volunteers among the ranks of the IDU. Dozens more have applied for the next National Service September draft date.




To donate: 

https://israeldogs.blogspot.com/2020/08/emergency-crowd-funding-campaign-for.html




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Friday, October 9, 2020

IDU News: From responding to Arab terror arson, to finding missing people and a doggy acrobatic show for special needs children...action packed week

 The week of Sukkot in review:

A week to remember for the IDU and all of those who benefited from our unique life-saving services

                                                                  IDU Finds Chaim Weizman Levy

Thursday evening, after searching for Chaim Weizman Levy, and after all of the other units had given up hope, we had a major breakthrough and we were able to find Chaim. IDU volunteers then brought Chaim to Ichilov Hospital after sharing some kosher pizza and cola with him. It appears that this was the first meal Chaim had for quite a while. 



The IDU took the case very seriously; especially in view of the fact that all of Chaim's relatives live abroad, and we feared that Chaim, 67, had suffered from memory loss and was in need of help. Immediately after we found Chaim, we phoned his children and brother in Ohio and put them back in touch.



                                    IDU responds to terror arson attack in Gush Etzyon

Matan, Chief of security for Kibbutz Nahal Oz with Zayid the dog he received from the IDU responding to Arab arson attack in forest near the kibbutz, located in Gush Etzyon



IDU cheers up special needs children with an acrobatic dog show in Jerusalem




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