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Search and Rescue

 AARONThe use of Dogs for search and rescue is not a new concept. Specially trained search dogs have been used in many parts of the world for decades. These dogs have been successful in searching for victims trapped by earthquakes, Alzheimer patients who have wandered away and lost children.

All humans, whether dead or alive constantly emit microscopic scent particles. Millions of these are airborne and are carried by the wind for considerable distances. Air-scent search dogs do not use scent articles and can be deployed immediately in hasty searches, running paths, and trails, or days or in conditions that a track/trail dog can not pick up the scent.

There are two primary ways that a dog can use its nose to locate human scent:

Photos of Sam and Aaron courtesy of Silvia Dierauer

Air-scenting - these dogs are trained to scan the air currents for human scent. The dog locates the source of the scent and indicates to the handler.

Tracking/Trailing - these dogs are trained to find people by following the scent left from the particles that have drifted from the body to the ground and surrounding vegetation.

There are also different types of search work:

Water - these dogs can work from the shore or a boat and will alert to scent rising from a submerged body.
Avalanche- these dogs are trained to help locate people who have been buried in the snow during an avalanche.
Cadaver - these dogs are specially trained to locate buried bodies or body parts.
Disaster - these dogs will find the location of a victim hidden beneath rubble from earthquakes, flooding, etc.
Evidence- these dogs will assist law enforcement by finding discarded evidence.