Search and Rescue Dogs...9-11-01

As the memory of the tragic events of September 11, 2001 come to mind on this twelfth anniversary, it would only be right to speak about Search and Rescue dogs.    Often one sees German Shepherd Dogs (as pictured above), Bloodhounds and Labrador Retrievers doing the search work on television, but many breeds and mixes can qualify for this job.   It is the determination, prey drive (desire to seek and catch prey) and tenaciousness of the individual canine which creates the basis for a SAR (search and rescue) dog.

Once a candidate for SAR has been identified, there is a long, ongoing training process.   Some start as puppies, others adults, some found in shelters, others bred specifically from a long line of active working dogs (ones of great pedigree, sound temperament and health with parents who participate in a working sport to win honors).  After the animal is chosen, the handler devotes a huge amount of time to training which is ongoing for the life of the dog.  Most training takes place in the worst of weather conditions, rain, fog, snow, high heat and humidity along with all the external hazards of sharp debris, biting bugs, and possible collapses.   During  training sessions, a few dedicated owners and their companions meet to set scent trails, create hiding places in debris, bury themselves in snow drifts, or hide in mosquito filled woodlands until each dog has had many opportunities to seek out and find the "lost" or "buried" person.    This all takes place in locations that are safe for the animal but not usually in comfortable environments.   The canines are also worked in sessions of agility training, not the type where there is a course to follow at top speed, but a carefully put together collection of real ladders, rocks, tunnels, jumps and balancing type of wooden beams.   The dog grows in self confidence and only positive reinforcement of the animal is used.

They are taught to find a human or specific animal, living or not, by use of their excellent scenting and hearing skills by zoning  into what is called "the scent cone" of a missing person.   Trailing back and forth, usually with their nose in the air (called air scenting) they hone in on the scent, then when close, they drop their nose to the ground to pick up the exact location.  Some dogs are taught to sit, bark, lay down, or dig when a hidden person is located.   Avalanche dogs actively dig the human out of the snow while the handler makes sure to watch them closely, running to the spot and helping to dig as well.  There are dogs who are used in water search that sit inside a boat, scenting, as they are slowly motored around a body of water.  A dog can smell and locate, depending upon exterior conditions, a few babies tears placed on a football field of grass, as well as a one drop of bleach in 100 gallons of water.   Canines sense of smell is so discerning that some are used to detect cancer cells, determine the chemical changes in our body to predict the onslaught of seizures, low blood sugar, angina, panic attacks, and a host of other internal health issues.

Once the SAR dog is trained, they practice regularly in the most hostile of conditions so when they get the call to come and help, there will be no hesitation.   Dozer was my main search and rescue dog although Spirit and Echo were also trained.   Many of our searches were to locate lost children or the elderly in urban environments.  Each animal sees the person they are locating as "prey" (not to be confused with attacking or killing anything) and the locating of the prey is its own reward.  Some trainers use a specific toy only given after a successful search is completed, others use high levels of praise from the rescued person.   No matter what method used, situations in training are always geared for the canine to become successful.    This creates a willingness to never give up even when nothing is being found.   The SAR dogs who searched in 9-11 and the Oklahoma bombing became depressed when they were not finding any live people, so the handlers created smaller searches where another handler was hiding and the canine found them, in order to boost the morale of the dogs.

Search and Rescue dogs are so dedicated they often pursue until they have bleeding paws, forsaking food and driving themselves to near exhaustion.   The handlers are just as committed  but have to stop their pets and force them to rest.   It is an honor to watch a canine detect and rescue a missing person in any circumstance and we should celebrate all the heroes, human and canine who are devoted to locating lost loved ones. 


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