Search-and-rescue dogs: an overview for veterinarians

T he use of dogs for search and rescue (SAR) was first recorded in the 1800s, but anecdotal evidence suggests that they may have been used 200 years earlier. These military dogs, known as ambulance and Red Cross dogs, were used on the battlefield to locate the wounded and deliver first aid supplies. 1 Today, civilian SAR training conducted in the United States is largely based on methods used to train the military dogs in WWII. The handler commonly is also the owner, trainer, guardian, and companion of the SAR dog. Most canine SAR teams are composed of volunteers, and the dogs are personal pets as well as working partners. Depending on their specific training, teams are prepared to respond to crime scenes, accidents, missing person incidents, and natural and man-made disasters. The teams train and work in a wide variety of environments.