UTILIZING CANINES ON SEARCHES Presented by Rocky Mountain
UTILIZING CANINES ON SEARCHES Presented by: Rocky Mountain Rescue Dogs 2011 Utah Sheriffs’ Association Conference
Outline/Overview � � About Rocky Mountain Rescue Dogs Search and Rescue that makes “Sense” Techniques when Deploying Search Dogs What can RMRD do for you?
About Rocky Mountain Rescue Dogs � � Rocky Mountain Rescue Dogs (RMRD) is a non-profit organization of individuals in Utah who donate their time and resources to assist in Search and Rescue operations around the country. RMRD is the oldest and largest canine search and rescue group in the state of Utah. � Established in 1980 � Current membership is 27 � Members span from Utah County up to Box Elder County
About Rocky Mountain Rescue Dogs � � � RMRD trains canines for Tracking, Wilderness, Avalanche, Disaster, Urban, HRD/Cadaver and Water searches. Each dog/handler team must meet rigid standards in air scent search, tracking, canine obedience, mountaineering skills, first aid, and search strategies for a lost or injured person. Each dog/handler team must pass an Operational Wilderness Test prior to going on any search.
About Rocky Mountain Rescue Dogs � RMRD can only be dispatched by the local law enforcement agency. � You have overall jurisdiction for all searches, and RMRD is a volunteer origination that offers their services to these departments. � RMRD is self-insured � 1 million liability coverage � RMRD is on call 24 hours a day � 1 -800 -327 -DOGS (3647) �www. Rocky. Mountain. Rescue. Dogs. com
About Rocky Mountain Rescue Dogs � RMRD currently has 10 certified and deployable dog teams 6 Specialized Operational �Advanced trained 4 Operational �Wilderness capable � RMRD has 10 candidate dog teams currently training for Operational status Average training time prior to becoming operational ready is 1 -2 years
About Rocky Mountain Rescue Dogs � RMRD has assisted in � Lost Boy Scout Uinta Mountain Search (2004) � Bloomington Lake Search (8/18/2007) � Missing BYU Student Search (9/7/2007) � Emery County Search (11/24/2008) � Canyon lands Search (5/10/2008) � Farmington Search (6/13/2009) � Uinta Search 62 year old man (7/14/2009) � West Wendover 66 year old man (10/7/2009) � Antelope Island, 32 year old man (2/27/2010) � Mountain View Wyoming Search (5/10/2010) � Mill Hollow Search, 54 year old man (7/18/2010) � Dushene County Search, 82 year old man (10/11/2010) � West Wendover 16 year old female (3/5/2011) � Grand County, 37 year old male (7/11/2011) � Daggett County, 12 year old male (8/13/2011) -- still missing -- body recovered 1 week later -- remains found 4/25/2009 --remains found 3/18/2009 -- alive, found 24 hours later --alive, found 37 hours later -- RMRD located -- body recovered 1 day later -- body recovered 1 year later -- body recovered 1 week later -- alive, found 4 hours into search -- body recovered that day -- still missing -- alive, found next morning
Rocky Mountain Canines Germans Blondes
Rocky Mountain Canines
The “Senses” of Search and Rescue � � � Touch Taste Sight Smell Hearing • Only 2 of the 5 senses are primarily used by humans when searching
The Senses used by Canines when searching • Smell • Sight • Hearing • Taste • 4 of the 5 senses are primarily used by canines when searching
Anatomy of a Canine Nose • Humans have 5 million olfactory receptors in their nose. • A dog has more than 220 million olfactory receptors in its nose
Smell Test What Humans Smell What Dogs smell • Chocolate Chip Cookies • • • Sugar Brown sugar Butter Eggs Vanilla extract All-purpose flour Baking soda Salt Chocolate chips
Efficiency of K-9 Unit in an Avalanche Search 20 humans 30 minutes 20 human 15 minutes 20 humans 7 minutes 12454 sq ft. 7100 sq ft 3500 Sq ft 1 K-9 Unit can do the same work as 400 people. And it is easier, quicker and safer to deploy an Avalanche Rescue Dog Team than large groups of people.
Techniques when Deploying Search Dogs
Deploy Dogs Early � � � The tendency is to call in dogs after an initial primary sweep. “Didn’t want to bother you” Excuse Fast Deployment = Fresher Scent � Longer the time = diluted scent � Fast Deployment = Less Human Contamination � Trails/Area mainly contain the subject’s scent early on � Scent is not disturbed � Wind, rain, heat, etc. � Higher probability a tracking dog is able to determine a direction of travel.
Canine Search Disiplines � Tracking
Canine Search Disiplines � � Tracking Wilderness
Canine Search Disiplines � � � Tracking Wilderness Avalanche
Canine Search Disiplines � � Tracking Wilderness Avalanche Water
Canine Search Disiplines � � � Tracking Wilderness Avalanche Water Cadaver
Canine Search Disiplines � � � Tracking Wilderness Avalanche Water Cadaver Urban
Canine Certifications in RMRD � Tracking � � Wilderness RMRD Level III Certified (6) � � Former FEMA certified canine (1) Avalanche RMRD Level III Certified (5) � � RMRD Level II Certified (4) NASAR Level II Certified (3) Disaster � � RMRD Level III Certified (2) NASAR Level III Certified (2) TTT/Georgia K-9 Certified (4) Cadaver Recovery � NASAR Cadaver Certified (2)
Preservation of Scent Articles � Scent Articles establish an identity � Match game: For Canines: Scent to Source � Gives Canines a single point of reference � One Scent = one person � A contaminated scent article can confuse the dog, thus giving the dog the impression that any scent on that article is fair game to find. � Plastic bags “trap” the scent inside the bag � Paper bags are permeable and allow outside scents in.
Scent and Subject Information � � Scent Articles gives the canine the blueprint of subject Medical conditions � Medication � Mental state � Anger � Fear � Adrenaline � Physical � Diabetic � Autistic � Cancer
Environmental Conditions � Wind is the best ally when using canines � Scent comes to the dog, rather the dog to the scent � Can clear large areas based off wind alone
Area Elimination off Wind
Area Elimination off Wind
Area Elimination off Wind
Area Elimination off Wind
Area Elimination off Wind
Area Elimination off Wind
Area Elimination off Wind
Environmental Conditions � Wind is the best ally when using canines � Scent comes to the dog, rather the dog to the scent � Can clear large areas based off wind alone � Hot vs Cold Weather Heat = scent rises Cold= scent pools on the ground � Ideal times to track: early morning or late evening � Dry vs Moist Conditions � Dry doesn’t hold scent � Wet environment traps scent
Scent Theory � Air currents � Ideal air current: 3 -7 mph � Ground vs Atmospheric � Scent Pockets � Valleys and canyons up at night, down during the day � Vegetation Scent sticks to it. � Subject hotspots High concentration of scent
Tracking Collars GPS Technology and Mapping � � � Ability to track canine movement See real time progress Can see other dog team locations � Able to adjust coverage accordingly � Ability to evaluate what has been covered and what needs to be on the fly
Area Coverage
Area Elimination � Probability of Detection (P. O. D. ) � Higher confidence using a Canine Team Bringing more than just sight and hearing to the search Scent unveils a subject that is out of plain sight � High confidence of area elimination
Area Elimination – Mill Hollow 2010 -07 -18
Area Elimination – Antelope Island 2010 -02 -27
Antelope Island 2010 -02 -27 Location of the Subject
What RMRD Can do for you � Impact of Searches � Searches focus many deputies on one situation � Time and Recourses are shifted away from the day to day duties of a department. � Searches cost money, the longer the search goes on the more expensive it is. � RMRD is a free resource for any Law Enforcement Agency to use
What RMRD Can do for you � RMRD Provides trained professionals � All teams are AHA First Aid and CPR certified � 8 members NASAR certified SARTECH II � 3 members NASAR certified as Evaluators for SARTECH II testing � 1 member NASAR certified as a Lead Evaluator for SARTECH II testing � RMRD canines are trained to hotload. � Helicopter, watercraft, ATV, snowmobiles
What RMRD Can do for you � Teams are self reliant working under ICS guidelines � Prepared for 72 hour deployment for themselves and their canines � RMRD utilizes up to date technology � Radios � GPS units and tracking collars � Computers/Mapping software
What RMRD Can do for you � RMRD provides daily operational reports. � RMRD provides a Debrief Packet/After Action Report to the agency in charge. � RMRD is another tool and resource you can use in your searches.
What We Can Do Together So that others may live……
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