If there really are angels on Earth, search and rescue dogs are the furry ones.
When we see a catastrophe through the media where there are working dogs, most of us have no idea what the dogs and their handlers had to go through to get there.
Before 1985, when the Mexico City earthquake happened, search-and-rescue dog groups in the United States weren't organized and handlers and interested parties knew something needed to be done.
The FEMA Disaster Canine system was created which led to the creation of the Search and Rescue Dogs of the United States (SARDUS) in 1991.
Initially, the International Rescue Dog Organization were the legs that held up the newly formed group until SARDUS became such a force they were the industry standard. Other countries took notice and came to them for instruction on how to build their own rescues.
They looked to them for good reason:
"The teams are trained, evaluated, and certified to help recover human remains, look for evidence of a crime, and even respond to scents in the air to locate those missing."
"The Organization Behind the Search and Rescue Dog Teams" -- Search and Rescue Dogs of the United States/SARDUS -- http://sardogsus.org/
According to SARDUS, "The main reason [missing] subjects are not found is because they are out of the search area." Can you imagine? Not because they overlooked them or became exhausted, but because the person is just not there.
The talent and mental intelligence of these dogs is undeniable.
“In human detection,” said trainer and handler Bev Peabody, “we sometimes train them on as little as one tooth.”
www.nationalgeographic.com
There are extremely difficult -- impossible for humans -- tasks that are required for dogs and handlers to be able to pass the following SARDUS standards:
> Air scent
Capable of searching 120 acres for multiple victims and 30 acres at night.
> Trailing
Capable of trailing individuals’ specific scent in wilderness terrain, suburban/rural, and urban settings.
> HRD (Human Remains Detection)
Capable of locating human remains in urban areas, wilderness areas and debris fields as well as remains buried in the soil, on the surface or above it.
> Avalanche Search
Capable of self-sustaining and searching for 24 hours in extreme weather and terrain conditions through avalanche debris fields.
> Disaster Search
Capable of working in tornado aftermath, collapsed structures, etc.
> Water Search
Capable of working swiftwater and still water environments on foot and from any type of watercraft. They must be able to swim as well.
> Evidence Search
Capable of locating physical evidence in a crime scene and self-sustaining for 24-hour operations.
One of the most exciting and compassionate services they provide is working with our veterans who want to use their skills and experiences when they return. The program is called the Returning Soldier Initiative.
Veterans are paired with dogs and they're also given mental health services since the transition back into society is sometimes fraught with difficulties.
My husband is a veteran and could have benefited greatly from this initiative. He has struggled for decades and now has an emotional service dog to help him cope.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency/FEMA is also one of the main players in using search and rescue dogs. Two of the most interesting aspects about the program listed on their website are:
> Canine search teams are trained to work and detect in any environment and are not limited by noise, equipment or distractions.
> The most common breeds in the system are Labradors, German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers, Malinois, and Border Collies. Canines are a minimum of 18 months old and the average age of our canine team members is about 7 years old.
This proves the dogs we usually see on TV searching and rescuing aren't limited to German Shepherds and that several breeds can achieve more in dire circumstances than humans ever could.
The American Kennel Club/AKC even recognizes these working dogs with an AKC Title Certificate.
So how do search and rescue dogs do what they do?
The entire process is treated as a game that gets increasingly difficult. Trainers use positive reinforcement and reward dogs with treats even if a search is unsuccessful which keeps up their morale.
Handlers say they see it as a game, but you have to wonder if they do understand the importance of what they do. Most of them "chomp at the bit" and are completely excited to start a mission once they're on the ground.
In the case of someone who has gone missing, dogs will smell an article belonging to them and then go to work. They must be able to differentiate between the person they're looking for and anyone else.
Search and rescue dogs live with their handlers and are generally trained from the time they are puppies...only weeks old. It's a long, arduous, and expensive process.
Some are dogs that have been rescued and some are bred specifically for the job. They need to have a good temperament and be physically strong to be trained. Smaller and very large dogs are largely ruled out.
Handlers need to be able to deal with:
1. Terrain obstacles
2. Situational disarray
3. Mental strain
4. Going through structural collapses
They also need to have:
1. CPR/First training
2. Physical fitness
3. HAZMAT training
4. Navigational intelligence (Mapping and GPS, compass, and radio communications)
5. Survival skills
6. Time for travel
7. Money (Initial outlay for necessary equipment for handler and dog can be up to $5,000.)
8. And more...
They must also pay thousands of dollars for dogs, training, and travel. On top of it all, they volunteer their time and services and trained dogs cost around $10,000 since the process requires weekly training for up to two years.
To say someone needs to have a passion to do this work would be an understatement.
June 24, 2021: In Miami, part of a 12-story condominium in Miami, FL, collapsed. Search and rescue dogs were called in and they began searching for human breath or body odor.
Who is CARDA?
CARDA is the acronym for California Rescue Dog Association. They're a 501(c)3 organization founded in 1976 and are the largest search dog group in the country.
Many of their members train and serve for 100 hours per month. They're available 24 hours a day and 365 days a year. Most of the dogs are from working, sporting, herding, or hound groups.
Who is TEXSAR?
The TEXSAR/Texas Search and Rescue K9 team partners with law enforcement agencies in search, rescue, and recovery missions.
Mission statement:
"Committing to service-above-self, perpetual training, and interagency cooperation to maintain a constant state of readiness for search, rescue, incident-response and above all else, safety."
In a perfect world, we wouldn't need these amazing dogs. And even as an imperfect one, we have these 4-legged wonders that provide comfort and closure.
Handlers say survivors who've been found have openly thanked the canines profusely since they know that without them, they may not have survived. These dogs are miracles.
And their wings might not be visible, but their hearts sure are.
P.S. If you need blogs that will grab your customers' attention, gimme a shout! Contact me at jenflattosborn@writeawaycreations.com or here. And my tail will be wagging.
References:
1. www.sardogsus.org
2. "Canines’ Role in Urban Search and Rescue" https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/national-preparedness/frameworks/urban-search-rescue/canines
3. "Search and Rescue"
https://www.akc.org/sports/title-recognition-program/search-and-rescue/
4. "How Search and Rescue Dogs Find Survivors" by Brian Handwerk -- Originally published on August 15, 2002 and updated. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/rescue-dogs-behavior-animals
5. www.carda.org
6. www.texsar.org