The National Search And Rescue Dog Association
Maple Barn, Canterbury Road, Molash, Kent CT4 8HF
More about the dogs
See our Missing Person Search Dogs, their handlers and where they can be found providing this life saving service
Our Search DogsOur Member AssociationsWhat do our Search Dogs do ?
Our Search Dogs are trained to find missing people, using the disciplines of air scenting and trailing.
These are very efficient methods of searching areas, routes and paths both quickly and efficiently.
Trailing search dogs require a scent article.
Air Scent and Water Search Dogs do not require a scent article.
A scent article may be an item of clothing or article belonging to the missing person or a swab can be created using a scent source.
Our Search Dogs DO NOT Search for Dogs. This is a common misconception !
Because our name read ‘Search And Rescue Dogs’ some people believe that our dogs are trained to locate missing dogs.
They are in fact trained Search Dogs are trained to find missing people.
If you are looking for a Missing Dog you may wish to contact:
Dog Lost https://www.doglost.co.uk/
Pets Reunited
https://www.petsreunited.com/lost-and-found-dogs
Lost Dog Register
https://www.nationalpetregister.org/
Where do our Search Dogs operate ?
NSARDA Search Dogs can be found working with Mountain Rescue (www.mountain.rescue.org.uk)
&
(www.mountainrescuescotland.org)
OR
Lowland Rescue (www.lowlandrescue.org.uk) teams…
…across England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland and Isle of Man.
Basically you will find search dogs working in all types of terrains, in the mountains, on the moors, in the countryside, in towns and villages as well as on or around bodies of water.
Who do Search Dogs look for ?
Our Search Dogs are employed in a wide range of scenarios looking for High Risk Vulnerable Missing Persons of many types and age groups.
This might include Walkers, Climbers, those living with Alzheimer’s or Dementia, Children, Despondents and possibly Victims of Crime.
Why are Search Dogs used ?
Search Dog teams can be quickly deployed in rural and urban areas or by 4×4 vehicles and helicopters in remote or difficult to reach areas, where they can begin to start searching at the earliest opportunity.
With their amazing sense of smell, speed and agility, Search Dogs can typically do the work of around 20 foot searchers (approx 5 Foot teams) in good weather conditions and many more in poor conditions.
In ideal conditions a dog can detect human scent up to 1,000 metres and more if the conditions are optimal. Typically it will be within 500m.
When do our Search Dogs work ?
Our voluntary search Dogs and Handlers are on call 365 Days a Year, 7 Days a Week, 24 Hours a Day.
Search Dogs work equally well in the day and the night in all types of ground conditions and terrain.
How are we called upon to find missing people ?
Our Search Dog teams are usually called out by the Search And Rescue team they each belong to, who have been called upon by their local Police Force or other agency such as Fire & Rescue, Coastguard, Local Authority or Emergency Resilience groups.
It is usually the Police Force, who have primacy responsibility for high risk vulnerable missing persons.
A Search Manager or POLSA (Police Search Advisor) who, after discussing the details of the situation, will establish the necessary resource required. It is rare that a search dog team will not be of use.
Dog Handlers along with other search resources are usually contacted by SMS, a messaging service such as WhatsApp or Telephone.
When should Search Dogs be called upon ?
Search Dogs should be summoned as early as possible as this gives them the best chance of success and we also need to find the missing person as quickly as people in case they succumb to cold weather or any conditions or injuries they may have.
How are dog teams deployed to search areas ?
Many dog handlers will, like most volunteer search resources, deploy to the search are using their own vehicle and from their make their way to the search task on foot.
In both mountain and lowland areas 4×4 vehicles will often be used to cut down on the walk in times where there is significant distance from the vehicle to the search tasking.
In mountainous areas search dogs teams will be deployed by Helicopter for the same reason.
NSARDA Associations serving mountainous areas enjoy a very good relationship with the Bristow Search And Rescue: UK Operations, the helicopter SAR service to HM Coastguard, part of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency of HM Government in the United Kingdom.
The dog teams receive training so they all become accustomed to entering and exiting helicopters as well as being winched into and out of them.
How many Search Dogs are there ?
At any one time NSARDA have approximately 40 to 60 qualified and operational search dogs at any one time on 24 hr call, 365 days of the year.
Across the UK we estimate that their are up to 200 qualified search dogs in total at any one time, should you combine the dogs from all of the organisations that, like NSARDA, train and deploy missing person search dogs within search and rescue teams across the UK, Wales, Scotland and Ireland.
Every NSARDA Dog is a Pet ?
Every NSARDA dog whether in training, qualified or retired is first and foremost the Handler’s pet and likely a Pet to a significant family.
Our search dogs also become a significant part of the search and rescue team, who also become their family.
Our search dogs lead the life of a Pet dog, like any other dog, but are highly trained and skilled to undertake their role as a Missing Person Search Dog.
Basically when the harness is on the dog knows to be a Search Dog, and when the harness is off the dog knows to be a Pet.
So as you can see through training the harness becomes a very handy trigger / switch for the dog.