Valley Search and Rescue

Sat. Mar 20th 2010
Search crews looking for man missing in Delaware Water Gap

Search crews looking for man missing in Delaware Water Gap

Manuel Gamiz Jr. ...

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K9 Unit
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WELCOME TO THE VALLEY SEARCH & RESCUE K-9 PAGE
If you are interested in information about becoming a K-9 handler or want to know what you can do to support our team please contact our K-9 Coordinator, Brenda Richards, or simply send your e-mail to dogs@valleysar.com!! Click one of the links below for some basic search dog handler information:

Becoming a Search and Rescue K9 handler
Training an Air Scent K9

All canines utilized for lost person searches by VSAR have completed training and evaluation for live human finds; and have been trained to detect and indicate when they have found deceased individuals or human remains.

After completing the required hours of training and passing an In-house Call-Out qualified Evaluation, our Teams are ready to respond to emergency calls. (click the standard to view details):

VSAR Canine Air Scent/Area Search Call-Out Qualified Criteria

All Canine teams completing the In-House Evaluation must pass one of the state or Nationally accepted standards within 12 months of Call Out Qualified Status (Click to review):

NASAR K9 SARTECH III Standards

NASAR K9 SARTECH II Area Search Standard

PSARC Canine Air Scent Specialist Standard(formerly PA-DCNR)

VSAR's Canine Unit Reccommends

All dogs be microchipped for safety

WE Use AKC Companion Animal Recovery

VSAR K9 Handler Reading List:

If you are curious as to what it takes to train a dog for search work, the reading list below may be interesting to you.

If your intent is to become a search dog handler the books listed below will be invaluable to you in your quest and are required reading for VSAR handlers.

1) Scent and the Scenting Dog – William Syrotuck

2) Practical Scent Dog Training – Lue Button

3) Search Dog Training – Sandy Bryson

4) Ready! The Training of the Search and Rescue Dog - Susan Bulanda

5) First Aid For Search & Rescue Dogs – Karen Dashfield DVM

6) Canine SARTECH Student Manual – NASAR

7) SAR Dog SARTECH Certification Standards – NASAR

8) SAR Dog Unit Guideline – NASAR
9) A Working Philosophy For The Scent Detection Dog Team 3-3-3 –Laura and Russell Denison

10) Cadaver Dog Handbook – Andrew Rebman, Edward David and Marcella Sorg

11) Search and Rescue Dogs – ARDA (American Rescue Dog Assoc)

12) Following Ghosts: Developing the Tracking Relationship –
John Rice and Suzanne Clothier

(This list maybe updated periodically)

Additional canine reading suggestions for fun and learning:

1) Cesar’s Way-The Natural, Everyday Guide To Understanding & Correcting Common Dog Problems – Cesar Millan
2) If Dog’s Prayers Were Answered…Bones Would Rain from the Sky – Suzanne Clothier
3) The Culture Clash – Jean Donaldson
4) Scenting on the wind-Scent Work for Hunting Dogs-Susan Bulanda

5) Caninestein – Betty Fisher and Suzanne Delzio

Canine’s intended for entry into the Search and Rescue training program must have a minimum basic obedience course prior. The handler must demonstrate an understanding of control and proper technique. Canine candidates are encouraged to take and pass the AKC Canine Good Citizen testing as well; in fact this is required prior to NASAR/PSARC certification.)

GoodSearch

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Recent Calls

Tue. Sep 7th 2010
Successful Outcome for Search in White Haven

East Penn Technical Search and Rescue requested resources from VSAR to respond to a search for a 62 year old male. He w...

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Wed. Jun 2nd 2010
Search for missing 20 year old male, Hunlock Creek, PA

VSAR was requested to assist in a search for a missing 20 year old male, last seen Monday on an ATV and did not return. Team ...

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Sun. May 9th 2010
Standby for Search in Palmerton, PA

On Sunday, May 9 at 1500 hours, Valley Search and Rescue mobilized for a possible search response in Palmerton, Carbon County...

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Contact Information

Valley Search and Rescue
PO BOX 22811
Lehigh Valley, PA 18002-2811

Non-Emergency:
484-629-VSAR 484-629-8727

Emergency:
1-888-K94-VSAR 888-594-8727

Contact Us

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K-9 PAGE