Zander&K9 Bax: A Lifesaving Team Facing Their Hardest Fight

Zander Hall is one of those people who quietly shows up, again and again, when others need help the most. As GulfSAR’s Lead Drone Operations Team Leader and a K9 Handler, he’s helped bring many people and pets safely home. He’s worked disaster zones over many years, and never once asked for recognition.

At his side - ALWAYS - is K9 Bax.

Bax is a certified Live Find K9, a working dog with the true heart of a warrior and the soul of a healer. He’s deployed into hurricanes with us (and before joining GulfSAR, searched for the lost, comforted the grieving, stood watch over our team while we slept in the field on Deployments, and somehow - somehow - ALWAYS knows when a team member needs a little extra love.

Bax isn’t just a dog. He isn't just a Team Member. Bax is family.

And right now, Bax is in the fight of his life. After several weeks of feeling under the weather, repeated Vet Visits and unanswered questions, tonight he’s been admitted to a specialty animal hospital in Miami. Chest X-rays show what doctors believe may be a fast-moving metastatic cancer. There’s still a small chance it could be a systemic infection, and the medical team is doing everything possible - running more tests, treating for infection, and we are all holding on to hope, together, as family.

Zander has been driving back and forth from the Keys where he and Bax live, doing everything he can. He’s already spent thousands of dollars trying to save his best friend - on vet bills, testing, treatments, and the cost of living in between. And, all of this came in the middle of Bax’s recertification, which as a self-funded GulfSAR Volunter, Zander alsohas been covering out-of-pocket.

Now, Zander won’t tell you any of this. But we will.

Because this is what being part of a Rescue Team means.

We’re coming to you to ask for your help to support Zander and Bax. To offset the crushing cost of care. To give Zander a little breathing room, no matter what comes next. And to remind both of these quiet heroes that they are not alone.

We get it - Everyone thinks their dog is special. But Bax truly is, to all of us. Not only in Zander and Bax's daily life, or this team - but all of the people that K9 Bax has helped over the years, even if it was just with the right amount of snuggles at just the right time.

Please consider donating if you can.

Share far and wide if you’re willing.

And please pray if you’re the praying kind.