Search and rescue crews across B.C. gathered in 麻豆精选 this past weekend for canine search and rescue training.
Central Okanagan Search and Rescue dog Chase participated in bettering his skills with handler and volunteer Terry Downs.
鈥淟ast year we had 106 calls and about 20 per cent of those are appropriate to Chase,鈥� Downs said. 鈥淲here he excels is missing or lost. So, despondent, dementia, Alzheimer鈥檚 patients that wander, as well as missing individuals.鈥�
Chase along with SAR dogs from Osoyoos/Oliver, Whistler, and Cranbrook spent Sunday practicing tracking across roadways.
READ MORE: Okanagan Search and Rescue teams add two dogs to active duty
鈥淭here鈥檚 a science to it and there鈥檚 an art to it,鈥� Downs noted. 鈥淪ometimes people just cross a road naturally, sometimes they鈥檒l turn 90 degrees, sometimes they鈥檒l back up. So what we鈥檙e doing is we鈥檙e teaching the dog and also the handler how do you read the dog, how do you know if that person went across or how do you know if they鈥檝e turned left or right, or even backed up.鈥�
Chase assisted in 20 tasks in 2021 with many successes.
鈥淟ike anyone who has a skill, it鈥檚 a perishable skill. We have to maintain the skills that we have,鈥� Downs said regarding training, commenting on how one dog in the group has been certified for eight years. 鈥淎ll of the dogs that are certified in the province under the RCMP Police Dog Services have to certify every 12 months. We make sure that they maintain their skills, that they keep fresh, keep healthy, and at the same time because it鈥檚 a national search and rescue canine standard it鈥檚 the same across the country.鈥�
Handlers of these dogs also own them and foot the bill for training and travel across the province, an estimated cost of $10,000 per year.
READ MORE: 鈥楥hase the Wonder Dog鈥� saves missing 麻豆精选 senior who wandered from hospital
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brittany.webster@blackpress.ca
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