Global Conservation Force Featured in CARES VetMed Spotlight – May 2026

Global Conservation Force is incredibly honored and excited to share that GCF has been selected as the May 2026 Spotlight Organization by CARES VetMed Spotlight.

This recognition means a great deal to our entire team, especially as we continue expanding our operational K9 first aid and field medical training initiatives for conservation teams and working dog units around the world.

CARES VetMed shared the following about GCF:

“Why We Love Them: The Global Conservation Force has gone beyond borders to protect animals that are near and dear to our hearts. We love that they engage the veterinary field to provide first-aid training for the canines who assist them in these valiant conservation efforts.”

To receive this kind of support and recognition from a veterinary-focused organization that values animal care, education, emergency medicine, and operational preparedness is incredibly meaningful to us.

At GCF, our conservation K9s and partner units often work in extremely remote and demanding environments across Africa, Asia, and the Americas. These dogs are deployed for anti-poaching operations, suspect tracking, wildlife detection, endangered species conservation, and counter wildlife trafficking efforts. Just like the rangers and handlers beside them, these working dogs face real-world risks in the field.

That reality is exactly why we began building the GCF K9 First Aid Program in 2020.

From the beginning, the goal has been to provide realistic, operationally relevant medical training designed specifically for working dogs deployed in conservation and anti-poaching environments. Unlike standard pet first aid courses, the GCF program has always focused on in-situ field response, teaching teams how to assess, stabilize, and manage emergencies in remote areas where veterinary care may be hours away.

The program has consistently been taught alongside veterinarians, veterinary technicians, and veterinary nurses working directly with trained K9 handlers and operational conservation personnel. This combined approach helps ensure the techniques, protocols, and medical planning remain practical, regionally relevant, and adaptable to the environmental realities teams face in the field.

Whether operating in dense jungle, African bushveld, remote ranger outposts, or high-heat tracking environments, the objective has always remained the same: Provide the best possible emergency response knowledge and treatment preparation for both handlers and working dogs operating on the frontlines of wildlife protection.

Over the years, GCF has continued expanding the program through:

• K9 First Aid lecture presentations
• Digital learning modules
• Handler workbooks
• Remote-access educational content
• Practical hands-on field medical training
• Instructor development programs

Because of the international demand and operational reach of our partner teams, we are now building scalable digital course systems so remote wildlife protection units and active field teams can access critical first aid education before attending practical in-person training programs.

This spotlight from CARES VetMed helps shine a light on the importance of veterinary education and preparedness within the conservation and working dog world.

We are especially grateful to Erin Martin, one of our newest team members and now an apprentice GCF K9 Field Medic / First Aid Instructor, for helping connect us with CARES VetMed and making this opportunity possible.

We encourage everyone to check out the full spotlight page and support the organizations CARES VetMed highlights each month:
View the CARES VetMed Spotlight Page

As GCF continues to grow these educational programs, we are actively seeking:

• Recurring donors
• Veterinary industry supporters
• Grant funding partners
• Corporate sponsorships
• Pet industry and veterinary hospital partnerships

These partnerships directly help fund targeted nonprofit program areas including conservation K9 support, ranger education, veterinary response training, digital course development, and international field operations.

To everyone supporting this mission, thank you. This spotlight is not just recognition for GCF, but recognition for the importance of protecting the dogs and teams working on the frontlines of wildlife conservation around the world.