Canine's Role in Urban Search and Rescue
Canine rescuers play a critical role during structural collapse incidents. The canines not only help search teams to locate victims, but often serve as a sort of unofficial mascot.
- Canine & Handler Certification - Learn about the rigorous national certification each canine/handler team must pass in urban search and rescue.
- Canine Readiness Evaluation Process - This page describes the process that can be used by local program management, state officials, FEMA and sponsoring organizations to determine search canine readiness levels.
- Urban Search & Rescue Canine Photos - View photos of US&R canines and handlers responding to disasters.
Did You Know?
- Approximately 85 percent of FEMA US&R canine handlers are civilian volunteers. The remaining 15 percent are local fire or police department members. Nearly all canines are considered the handlers' "family dog."
- One of the handlers' primary responsibilities during a search and rescue deployment is to maintain the interest and "spirit" of their dogs throughout the shifts. For the dogs, the search is a game of "hide-and-seek," with a find the reward. After a sustained period without a find, handlers will often have a team member hide and then send the dog out to search so it can have a successful find.
- Few search dogs wear "booties" when working on a rubble pile. Despite the hazards of sharp metal and broken glass, the dogs often need to perform what is called a "soft walk" where they splay their paws for maximum traction. Collars and booties can sometimes add to the risk of searching in tight or obstructed spaces.
Last Modified: Wednesday, 28-Feb-2007 13:50:42 EST