Finding a missing person along a busy roadway, highway, or trail.

I was talking to a mother whose son is missing while driving from Wofford Heights, CA and Bakersfield, Ca.

I understand that the local SAR Dogs are deployed via the local office of emergency management and sheriff's office.

But wouldn't it be nice if one of the local SAR Dog teams trained in Tracking, trailing, air scenting for live/dead human scent would meet with the mother of the missing son, get a scent item, go to PLS and try to track his scent on their own and use it as a training exercise?

1). As you drive you leave scent. It escapes out of the vehicle through and open window, air vent. Falls alongside the roadway and can be tracked up to 18 months later.

2). It's a very difficult and time-consuming type of search.

3). It's a very dangerous type of search in that you as a dog handler must avoid becoming "ROADKILL". from all the other folks out there driving along.

4). In the early morning hours, air currents flow UP HILL from the canyons, cliffs down below.

All the handler must do is drive the route and look for places where a person could have left the roadway (accidently) maybe to avoid a collision with a deer, or other wildlife.

Here's the hard part. While avoiding the roadkill situation you must be very aware of the wind current speed and direction.

Many times, I've found victims by working this type of search. If I can do this, so can you.

While making sure the winds are coming from the canyon / cliffs below the roadway, get out, put on your vehicle flashers or pull over somewhere where you can check your area. Get your dog out, introduce the scent, give him/her the command to work or go find and work the area.

If you can establish a valid track / trail great. Most likely because of cross contamination, you won't be able to unless your very skilled in reading your dog. What you will be watching for is an air scent alert and most likely a major stress/death alert. If you don’t know what the stress / death alerts are, then you shouldn’t call yourself a dog handler.

When your dog first alerts, stop, get out your GPS, compass, and map. Mark where on the map or on a notebook, wind direction, wind speed, air temperature, and exact location. Then continue until you lose the alert. (Very important). Document again GPS, Compass bearings of the wind, wind speed, location.

Where your dog first alerted on a map draw a straight line (Into the wind). When the dog stopped alerting, draw another straight line into the wind. Where the two lines intersect, is usually where you’ll find your source of alerts.

No different really than doing a water search or field or wilderness search in rugged terrain.

If someone from the area could perform this type of search, it could very possibly bring closure to a very distraught family who needs answers.

Be safe out there. Make sure you wear safety vest, head lamp and keep your dog on a long trailing/tracking lead. Take plenty of water breaks.

Respectfully
Mr. Oakes
K9 SAR coordinator/Instructor
www.k9sardog.com