Search and Rescue (SAR) involves the deployment of trained professionals to locate and rescue individuals who are lost, missing, or in distress. SAR teams use a variety of techniques, including K9s, to locate people in wilderness, urban, or disaster environments. SAR teams can also be deployed in the search for human remains.

A K9 SAR team consists of a handler and a specially trained dog that assists in search and rescue missions. These dogs are trained to find missing persons or human remains using their advanced sense of smell. K9 teams can operate in diverse conditions, such as forests, urban areas, or disaster sites.

SAR dogs are trained to use their incredible sense of smell to detect human scent. Depending on their training, they can track scents in the air (air-scenting) or follow a specific trail on the ground (tracking/trailing). They can locate live individuals or human remains, depending on the mission.

K9 SAR teams can assist in a variety of missions, including but not limited to:

• • Wilderness searches: Locating missing hikers, hunters, or campers.

  • Urban searches: Finding missing persons in residential or urban areas.

  • Disaster recovery: Assisting in the aftermath of natural disasters like floods or earthquakes to find trapped or missing people.

  • Human Remains Detection (HRD): Locating deceased individuals in various conditions and terrains.

If someone goes missing, it is important to contact local authorities (such as the police or sheriff's office) immediately. Once the authorities assess the situation, they will often request the assistance of SAR K9 teams. In non-emergency situations, you can reach out directly to Sentinel Detection K9 for more information.

While you most certainly can reach out to a SAR team to request their services, any reputable SAR team will direct you to contact your local authorities first. SAR Team is often only a part of much larger and broader efforts by law enforcement. Maintaining the appropriate incident response structure and hierarchy is as crucial as the search and rescue work itself. Should the incident become a legal matter, deploying a SAR team without involvement from the proper law enforcement agencies could have a dramatically negative impact on the entire case. 

In most cases, SAR services are provided at no cost to the law enforcement agency overseeing the operation, person being rescued, or their family. Sentinel Detection K9 operates as a nonprofit organization, and we rely on donations and sponsorships to cover the costs of our equipment, training, and operations.

SAR K9s undergo rigorous training that often (but not always) begins when they are puppies. Training covers basic obedience, scent detection, search techniques, and working in a variety of environments. The dogs participate in regular drills and advanced scenario-based training to keep their skills sharp. Most SAR teams train with their K9 several times per week. 

If you want to know more about Search and Rescue Training and "SAR Life", check out our Search & Rescue Training Blog article

Not all dogs are suited for SAR work. While many breeds have strong scenting abilities, SAR dogs need specific qualities, such as a strong drive to work, excellent physical condition, and the ability to remain calm under pressure. Breeds like German Shorthaired Pointers, Labrador Retrievers, and Belgian Malinois are commonly seen in SAR teams.

Depending on the mission and depending on the geographical area, SAR teams, a range of equipment, including GPS trackers, radios, climbing gear, and specialized gear for K9 teams like harnesses, protective boots, and cooling vests. K9s may also work with scent-specific articles to locate individuals.

No, SAR teams are specialized in locating humans—both alive and deceased—by tracking human scent. Training a SAR dog to locate pets could confuse the dog during missions and impact their effectiveness when searching for people. Additionally, in cases that may lead to legal action, using a SAR K9 trained to locate pets could compromise the validity of the search and jeopardize the entire case. 

However, there are highly trained organizations out there who use similar technology and methods to offer specialized pet location services. 

Both of these disciplines require extensive training and discipline, but handlers and dogs trained in pet detection should refrain from using the same canines for human search and rescue missions.

No, not all SAR teams are equipped to assist in disaster-stricken areas. Only teams with highly specialized training and certification in disaster recovery are qualified to operate in such environments. Unqualified teams could risk their own safety and that of the victims, making it crucial to deploy teams that are specifically trained for disaster recovery missions.