Search and Rescue is the title of a family-oriented adventure television series which was a co-production of the CTV television network in Canada and NBC in the United States during the 1977-1978 TV season. The program was aired in prime time in Canada and on Saturday mornings by NBC. It was later syndicated overseas. The American broadcasts of the series carried the modified title Search and Rescue: The Alpha Team. The series starred Michael J. Reynolds as Dr. Bob Donell, the leader of a unique rescue team that includes his two children Katy and Jim. What makes the team unique is that it conducts its rescues using a veritable zoo of specially trained animals. Each episode would see the Alpha Team utilizing specific animals to handle specific incidents, ranging from birds to dogs. A total of 26 episodes were produced, although the American broadcast of the series was cancelled after thirteen episodes.
Episode 1
The Alpha Team, with the help of Rex the Hawk, rescues two motorcyclists in the premiere episode of CTV's new Canadian adventure series. When an injured biker becomes lost in the deep woods near Alpha Ranch, Bob Donell and his children, Katy and Jim, deploy Rex to find him. Rex quickly locates the lost motorcyclist, but the situation worsens when he realizes he’s in a cougar's den.
Episode 2
A boy and his mother are trapped in a gas explosion in a hospital where he is recovering from tetanus and the Alpha team comes to their rescue along with Sonny the Rat and Sneaky the Raccoon.
Episode 3
A chimp and a mule come to Will's rescue when a hang-gliding accident leaves him caught on a treetop.
Episode 4
A circus lion, traumatized by fire and guns, is tamed by Katy Donald of the Alpha team.
Episode 5
The team attempts to rescue an old prospector from a crumbling mine-shaft.
Episode 6
Two mountain climbers are rescued by a bear and a cougar.
Episode 7
Oscar the Otter and Sneaky the Raccoon help save two underwater photographers from entrapment in an underwater cavern.
Episode 8
A poacher invades the game preserve to stalk a couple of cougars.The villain is a poacher who would rape the land for selfish personal gain.
Episode 9
Employing the assistance of modern technology and trained animals in equal doses, the Alpha team ensnares the poacher and brings him to justice.
Episode 10
A car rally becomes a dangerous sport for two rally enthusiasts and the Alpha Team leap into action to rescue the racers.
Episode 11
Bob's uncle, an old timber spotter, is injured in the forest.
Episode 12
The Alpha team is called in to rescue two adventurous hikers trapped in a swamp of quicksand.
Episode 13
An admirer of Katy finds that he's cried wolf too often when he's confronted by the real animal.
Episode 14
Simba the Bear and the Alpha team rescue a fishing enthusiast who has become blinded and lost in a dense forest.
Episode 15
Three young skateboard enthusiasts become lost in a drain tunnel system and the Alpha Team along with Frankie the Owl and Oscar the Otter come to the rescue.
Episode 16
Bob Donell decides to test the rescue skills of his two children by hiding atop a dangerous mountain, but the test backfires when he contracts a viral infection, and the fever threatens to cause a serious accident.
Episode 17
A young teen, resentful of his new stepfather, runs away and into danger with wild animals and terrain. A camping trip designed to smooth over a touchy relationship between a man and his stepson almost ends in disaster. Two people run into trouble on a mountain and must be rescued. Berry the St Bernard, Rex the Hawk, Simba the Lion and Farrah the Chimp rescue a runaway boy and his stepfather who have become trapped on a mountainside.
Episode 18
A collector's obsession with a particular butterfly leads him into a dangerous situation.
Episode 19
In England where they are visiting, Katy and her lion, Lucy, come to the rescue of Bob and Colonel Brent-Walker.
Episode 20
Team of specially trained animals is called in rescue two balloonists who have landed in middle of minefield.
Episode 21
Jim tries to rescue two rare birds and their unhatched egg, but two poachers interfere.
Episode 22
A small, overprotected deaf boy wanders away from his school and into great danger. The Alpha Team is called on to rescue the boy but finds their job doubly difficult because of the boy's handicap.
Episode 23
The Alpha team along with Farrah the Chimp, and Tim and Tina the elephants are called to rescue a temperamental horse trapped in quicksand.
Episode 24
A small boy, searching for his dog, loses his way in a labyrinth of caverns deep in the earth's bowels and creates another exciting rescue for the Alpha Team.
Episode 25
A prison inmate, days away from parole, decides to make a bid for freedom and creates another adventure for the Alpha Team. Old Reggi,e a harmless forger, escapes from prison determined personally present a bid for freedom.
Episode 26
The Alpha Team's visit to Britain is thrown into turmoil when one of their team of animals, Martha the Tiger, escapes and causes chaos in the streets of Bath.
