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We are an all volunteer professional canine search and rescue team.
WVK9SAR is a Charter Member of the West Virginia Search
& Rescue Council, Inc.
Team Members
All of our team members are trained in the fundamentals of search operations, search strategy, radio communications, lost person behavior, incident command system, crime scene preservation and first aid, CPR/AED. In addition, proficiency in land navigation and wilderness survival is required of our Field Team Members. The team can provide an operations base with topographical maps, radio communications and search management capabilities staffed by our Operations Team Members and Field Team Leaders.
Search
A boy scout gets separated from his troop on a hike...a patient suffering from dementia leaves a care facility...a hiker has not returned to their car at the trail head...WVK9SAR dog teams can help! If there is a scent article available, our Trailing Dogs are trained to search for the specific human scent and to determine the direction of travel for the lost person. Our Scent Discriminating Air Scent Dogs are trained to search for the specific human scent in a given area. For the search manager, this means that ground and canine searchers can work alongside each other.
If there is no scent article available, our Air Scent Dogs are trained to search a given area for any human scent present. If the lost person is mobile, an air scent team can find their current location without following each footstep. The time saved can mean the difference between life and death.
Disaster
A flash flood washes a home off it's foundation, trapping the residents...a roof is blown off of a superstore with shoppers inside...a new parking garage collapses while under construction, trapping workers...In disaster situations, our Disaster Dogs are trained to quickly search for live persona in unstable, confined space environments. We are proud to have Handler Pam Bennett and Canine Cynder, the only FEMA CE (Certification Evaluation) qualified dog team in the state of West Virginia, as members of WVK9SAR.
Recovery
The teams may be useful in many environments, including burn sites, plane crashes, possible crime scenes, vehicle lineups and drowning location. Our Human Remains Detection Dogs are trained to locate the scent of human decomposition from blood to bones. The HRD teams can locate remains that are hidden, buried or hanging above ground. Our Water HRD Dogs are trained to alert on the scent of human decomposition. The teams locate scent cones that reduce the area to be searched by divers or other means. The teams can work on lakes and rivers, from shore or from a boat.
Evidence
A suspect is seen throwing an article out of a moving vehicle...Our Evidence Dogs are trained to search a given area for any articles with recent human scent. The teams are trained to locate items made of cloth, leather, metal, paper and plastic.
24 Hour Dispatch Statewide Response
(304) 558-5380
West Virginia Division of Homeland Security
and Emergency Management
A
Non-profit, Charitable 501c3 Corporation.
Donations
are tax deductible.
To contact us:
WVK9SAR
Post Office Box 535
Charleston, West Virginia 25322-0535
E-Mail: West Virginia K-9 Search and Rescue
Copyright ©1988-2010 by West Virginia K-9 Search and Rescue, Inc. No part of this document (text or graphics) may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without the written permission of West Virginia K-9 Search and Rescue, Inc. Contact: webmaster@wvk9sar.org