Search dogs help dive teams locate bodies for recovery
Search dogs help dive teams locate bodies for recovery
How is this possible? Haven't we all seen the Hollywood movies of the
prison escapees
avoiding the hounds by running through a stream?
Well, that's Hollywood.
In reality, scent leaves the body of a submerged person and travels upwards
toward the surface. It will break the surface and become windborne, in
much the same pattern that smoke leaves a smoke stack. By working across
the wind, the boat and dog will cross that pattern of scent. By reading
their dog's reaction to the scent, the handler can get a good idea of the
boundaries of the scent trail, then follow the trail back to the point were the
scent leaves the water. By considering currents, the divers can then
determine the approximate location of the body.
We train for water searching with rescue divers from other agencies. These
divers are equipped with full wet or dry suits, yet dogs are able to pick up
their scent on the surface.
Dogs may also be used for "negative" searches; submerged vehicle or aircraft -- is there someone in it?
Instances of false reports--"cries for help", but no one is known to be missing.
Dogs can be used to quickly eliminate a potential body of water.
The dogs search from shore or from a boat and will indicate human scent from as deep as 200 feet. Areas that have been successfully searched include lakes and ponds, rivers and streams, quarries and Long Island Sound.
Water Search Training with Master Trainer, Jonni Joyce
PROTOCOL
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Water search dogs are trained to ignore distractions on shore. However, divers or others should not be in the water in the area being searched so as not to have their scent confuse the dog.
The dog teams require an inflatable boat such as a Zodiac, or a boat with low freeboard such as a Whaler or bass boat. CCSAR can provide their own Zodiac and also a small fiberglass boat, both of which are suitable for inland lakes, rivers, and quiet ocean waters. Member-owned and equipped larger craft are available for use in heavier water.
When a dog alerts on a spot, a second dog is sent to verify the alert of the first dog. The second dog and handler usually do not know the location of the first alert so that the handler does not accidentally "cue" the dog into a false alert.
Canine water search is not magic, nor is it an exact science. It requires careful navigation, observations, and calculations based on winds, currents, and weather. We train throughout the year to improve skills and develop coordination with divers.
QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
CCSAR dogs have searched the Mystic, Pawcatuck, Farmington, Willimantic, Quinnipiac, and Connecticut Rivers; many inland lakes and ponds; Fishers Island Sound and Long Island Sound and its estuaries.
In June, 1997 CCSAR volunteers assisted at the Dive Rescue International DR- I course at the Avon Police Department, role-playing as witnesses at a staged incident and presenting a canine water search demonstration.
CCSAR uses several breeds of dog in its work and tries to take advantage of each of the breeds' special characteristics. Since many retrievers are strong, willing swimmers; and Newfoundlands have a long history of rescue at sea, we have experimented in ways to allow these dogs to work directly in the water locating victims. These methods supplement the usual air-scenting techniques employed on shore and in the boat by all the dogs.
Training and/or demonstrations are available at no charge to dive teams, fire, and police departments.
For information, please contact the CCSAR Training Director.
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