Safeguard had to answer the increasing threat of global terrorism. Much was learned from security lapses that could have avoided successful terrorist attacks like the 9/11 incidents of New York and 7/7 subway and bus bombings in London. As bomb making became a backyard business for many of the world’s terrorist, the Philippines was not immune to its share of threats from extremists. Thus, Safeguard was quick to establish its own K9 facility. In 2004, construction began on what was to be a wholly-owned canine school for bomb sniffing dogs and administered by highly qualified, US trained instructors. The site chosen was inside a sprawling 7.7 hectare compound in the town of Calauan, Laguna, just one and half hours South of Manila.

Dogs chosen were from two breeds: 1) The Belgian Malinois, or sometimes known as the Belgian Shepherd, and 2) the Labrador Retriever. Both breeds were known for their superior stamina, sniffing ability, friendliness, ease to be handled and their ability to work long hours even in extreme hot weather as normally experienced in tropical countries like the Philippines. After months of rigorous training, the School was able to produce its first batch of authentic K9 graduates and train their corresponding handlers. Each canine and partner handler was only certified as “ready to work” when the team could