Handlers and canines from four states gathered at Adair County Schools recently for a search and rescue training hosted by Canine Search Incorporated of Kentucky.
Adair County Emergency Management personnel Brandon Harvey and Grant Loy assisted with the training.
The nonprofit, volunteer-based organization conducted exercises in trailing, air scent and human remains detection, with roughly 20 dogs participating. The group relies on donations for operations, with many expenses covered by individual handlers.
Local handler Christy Warrington helped organize the event and trained alongside her dog, Goose. Based on specific commands, Goose can search either for the scent of a missing person or for human remains.
The organization is led by Charles Cooper of Hart County, with handlers located across Kentucky who respond when called.
Training stations were set up across the school campus to simulate different search conditions. Activities included trailing scenarios, distraction training and introductory exercises for younger dogs.
“A couple of dogs who have come that are thinking about getting into search and rescue, so we did some fun puppy runs for them,” said Warrington. “You kind of tease them and show them a toy or food and then you run around the building and hide. Those you want to see running.”
“With a search and rescue dog, I think the bond and relationship that you build with that dog really says a lot,” she said. “Not only do I trust Goose to go out and search for people, I trust Goose to keep me safe when I’m out there as well.”
Trailing dogs trained on leads worked closely with handlers, keeping their noses to the ground to follow a specific path. These dogs are trained to determine direction and stay focused despite intentional distractions such as food or animal remains placed along the route.
Warrington and Goose have assisted in multiple searches in Adair County.
“Off Independence Ridge about a year and a half ago, there was a man from Illinois with dementia who ended up in Adair County. She [Warrington] was just as the crow flies on the next mountain top over so she able to bring Goose within 20-30 minutes,” said Harvey. “Other handlers also responded. We had to call the search off two or three times due to the weather for the safety of our people.”
A training scenario was also conducted using a boat, where cadaver scents were placed to test whether dogs could detect them while on the water.
“If there is a search in this county, based upon the dispatch information, we will automatically place a call for a search and rescue dog team and we will go ahead and get them en route,” said Harvey.
Search and rescue canine teams in Adair and surrounding counties can only be called by emergency officials. Calls must be routed through 911, with the agency having jurisdiction requesting the team and notifying the emergency operations center in Frankfort.
The time commitment required to properly train search and rescue dogs, with ongoing exercises designed to prepare teams for real-world conditions is extensive. This type of training offers handlers an opportunity to expose dogs to new scenarios and sharpen their skills.
