Members of the Northwest Pennsylvania K-9 Search and Rescue organization provided information and demonstrated canine search and rescue techniques for the week’s training. The all-volunteer non-profit organization assists local emergency agencies in rescue and recovery missions, with a primary response area of Erie, Crawford, Warren, Mercer, Venango, and Forest Counties. The advanced skills and capabilities of the canine search team can cover much larger areas effectively in a rescue or recovery effort. The search team introduced their canine partners, provided an overview of the organization’s services, and offered tips on how to cooperate with canine search teams on incidents. With fire company members serving as missing persons, the handlers demonstrated several tracking and air scent searches with their dogs. The final demonstration showed a Human Remains Detection (HRD) search.

More information about the Northwest Pennsylvania K-9 Search and Rescue organization is available on their website www.nwpak9sar.org or on the organization’s Facebook page.

West Mead #1 thanks the K-9 team for their time and efforts in educating our members on the services provided by their search and rescue organization.