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Great Plains Search Dogs
| By Phone: In case of an actual Search Emergency, contact your local Police, Sheriff or Fire Department. Emergency 911 Brookings Police 692-2113 Brookings County Sheriff 696-8300 Brookings Fire Department 692-6323 Contacts: 605-695-8444 (Sandy - Brookings, SD) 605-695-8693 (Eric - Brookings, SD) 605-391-6782 (Kim - Rapid City, SD) |
By E-Mail:
Things to remember when a Search Dog is needed:
- Call ASAP, NOT as a last resort. K9 Search Teams should be one of the
first resources you deploy. Time can be extremely important. If in doubt,
go ahead and call. If possible, only deploy K9 Search Teams that have
passed certification tests with national organizations, meeting NIMS
credentialing requirements. - Secure the Scene. Protect any areas that may contain scent from
unnecessary contamination. Keep people out. If there are any pets in the
area have the owners put them inside. - Avoid driving or parking vehicles near the search area. Exhaust fumes kill
scent. This includes ATVs and Police squad cars. - Have all available information ready for the handler. This may include a
description of the person, description of footwear and other clothing,
medical information, point last seen and any other information which
might be helpful. - Selection and collection of scent articles is best left to the K9 handler. If it
is necessary to collect or protect scent articles prior to the team's arrival:
DO NOT touch any scent article with bare hands. Use an inverted zip-loc
baggie to collect the item. Seal the bag. DO NOT use ordinary plastic
garbage bags. Many of these are treated with chemical deodorants.
Types of Search Dogs
Tracking Dogs—these dogs basically follow the subject’s
footsteps. They are oriented to the mixture of human scent
and ground disturbance where they walked.
Trailing Dogs—these dogs are oriented to the cells that
have fallen to the ground along the subject’s route. This dog
may work some distance from the actual trail due to wind
conditions.
Air Scent Dogs—these dogs can work very large areas off
lead. These dogs are oriented to airborne human scent and
work into the wind. Air Scent dogs can be worked at night.
Most Air Scent dogs do a “recall/refind”. When the dog finds
the subject, they return to the handler, indicate or “tell” them
they found someone and lead the handler back to the
subject.
HRD (Human Remains Detection) or CADAVER—These
K-9s are trained to find bodies that have been buried, hung,
burned, submerged or scattered in an area. These dogs can
work over land and water that is several feet deep.
Tracking Dogs—these dogs basically follow the subject’s
footsteps. They are oriented to the mixture of human scent
and ground disturbance where they walked.
Trailing Dogs—these dogs are oriented to the cells that
have fallen to the ground along the subject’s route. This dog
may work some distance from the actual trail due to wind
conditions.
Air Scent Dogs—these dogs can work very large areas off
lead. These dogs are oriented to airborne human scent and
work into the wind. Air Scent dogs can be worked at night.
Most Air Scent dogs do a “recall/refind”. When the dog finds
the subject, they return to the handler, indicate or “tell” them
they found someone and lead the handler back to the
subject.
HRD (Human Remains Detection) or CADAVER—These
K-9s are trained to find bodies that have been buried, hung,
burned, submerged or scattered in an area. These dogs can
work over land and water that is several feet deep.