SEarch & REscue
By Janet Wolff
Search and Rescue
Canine Search and Rescue (SAR) in the United States is largely performed by trained volunteers. These dedicated teams contribute countless hours to mastering navigation, communications, scent theory, crime scene preservation, hazardous materials awareness, search techniques, rescue operations, and incident command before ever beginning work with a dog.
SAR encompasses four main disciplines, with a few regional specialties such as avalanche and live water rescue.
1. Live Find Area Search
Often what people picture when they hear “search and rescue,” live find dogs locate lost individuals such as children, hikers, and hunters.
Work off lead and independently.
Cover terrains from small fields to hundreds of acres.
May be scent-specific (tracking one person) or non-specific (searching for anyone).
Use air currents and terrain features to detect human scent.
2. Human Remains Detection (HRD)
HRD dogs locate anything from recent to historical remains.
Land: Search large, often empty areas to eliminate zones during investigations. Must show endurance, focus, and passive alerts to preserve crime scenes.
Water: Work from shore or boats, often in pairs to triangulate where scent breaches the surface.
Must be comfortable with crowds, equipment, noise, and varied terrain or vessels.
3. Tracking / Trailing
SAR tracking differs from sport or law enforcement tracking.
Combines ground scent and human scent, often called “tracking/trailing.”
Dogs are scent-specific and must stay close to the actual path.
Valuable for locating dropped items or establishing direction of travel.
Certification tracks are typically 4–6 hours old to reflect real-world delay before deployment.
4. Disaster Search
Covers natural and manmade disasters such as floods or building collapses.
May be trained for live find or HRD.
Require agility, confidence on unstable surfaces, and independence with or without handler guidance.
The Impact
SAR dogs and their volunteer handlers play a vital role in communities—locating the missing, bringing closure to families, and standing ready in times of crisis.
