About Search and Rescue Dogs
THE SEARCH DOG MISSION
When someone is reported lost or overdue, volunteer search and rescue (SAR) dog teams are available to respond, day or night, to help in the search effort. SAR dogs can find :
Children lost in the wilderness, parks or hidden in shrubbery around houses Old people who have wandered away from homes and hospitals Hikers and hunters lost in the woods Victims of drowning accidents Victims of avalanche, earthquake, flood, explosion, fire, train wrecks, plane crashes, tornadoes and other disasters
Evidence of crime and the bodies of homicide victims Volunteer SAR dog units search under the direction of law enforcement and emergency services agencies, at no cost to the agency. Units will not respond to requests by private individuals, and will not respond to known criminal searches that may present a threat to dog or handler.
TYPES OF UNITS
Air Scent - As scent originates from a person or object, it forms a cone, called a scent cone. In order to search the largest space possible a handler usually moves the dog in a search grid pattern across the search area and into the wind. Air scenting dogs work with their heads up high and their noses in the air in order to detect scent. When scent is detected, the air scent dog will often lift its head up higher and raise its tail. This is referred to as an alert. The alert is a signal to the handler that the dog has located the scent's source.
Tracking/Trailing - Tracking/Trailing is the scenting technique used by search dogs that work their nose close to the ground and which is often seen on television. They follow residual scent that settles as a person travels through an area. Trailing dogs follow scent on the ground and may not be in the exact footprints of the person. Tracking dogs follow the exact footprints that a person took. Both types of dogs need to know which scent it is expected to follow and therefore works with a scent article. This dog needs both the drive and determination necessary to enable it to enjoy the challenge of intricate scent problems encountered during the search.
Human Remains Detection (HRD): HRD dogs have been trained to locate the scent of decomposing human tissue. The dog may be asked to locate a whole corpse (as in a missing person presumed dead), or only body parts from catastrophic trauma such as an airplane crash, or foul play with resultant body dismemberment.
Trained HRD dogs are able to distinguish between human remains, animal remains, and a wide range of other odors that would normally be expected to distract them. HRD dogs may also be taught to locate drowning or submerged subjects through either shoreline work or working from a boat.
HOW DO SAR DOGS WORK?
All humans, alive or dead, constantly emit microscopic particles bearing human scent. Millions of these are airborne and are carried by the wind for considerable distances. The air scenting SAR dog is trained to locate the scent of any human in a specific search area. The dog is not restricted to the missing person's track and can search long after the track is obliterated. Many air scenting search dogs are also trained in trailing/scent discrimination.
Upon arrival at the search site, dog handlers work directly for their unit's operations leader, who reports to the search boss or incident commander of the local agency. Many units provide their own base camp operation, with trained radio operators, SAR dog advisors, and other support personnel.
After initial hasty searches of trails and paths, each dog/handler team is usually assigned a segment of the search area to cover systematically. Handlers work their dogs downwind of the section assigned to them or cover the area in a way that provides dogs with the best scenting coverage. Handlers map the area they have covered and report their POD (probability of detection) to the plans section or operations leader upon completing their assignments.
Search dogs can work in areas where other searchers have been, and they can work with other search resources, such as mantrackers. Using scent articles, they can discriminate for the missing person in heavily populated areas. They can work day or night, in most kinds of weather, and are especially effective where human sight is most limited -- in the dark, in dense woods or heavy brush, in debris (as found in earthquakes, floods, and tornadoes) and under water.
Meet Our Dogs
