Today, search and rescue (SAR) dogs are primarily used to seek out vulnerable missing people — those who are lost, injured, confused, living with dementia, despondent, or the victims of crime. Around 170,000 people are reported missing every year in the UK and the police, who have primary responsibility for them, will call out Search and Rescue Dog Association (SARDA) teams to assist in the searching.
“We average between 300 and 400 call-outs a year,” explained Stuart Kenny, chair of the National Search and Rescue Dog Association (NSARDA), “and there are times, such as during Christmas or Easter, when we are more likely to get a call.”
There are 10 member associations affiliated to NSARDA located all over the UK, Ireland, and Isle of Man, covering every type of terrain.…