It was a busy weekend for the K9 team as three of the search dog handlers headed South to Puttenham Common in Surrey to attend a National Assessment weekend, where they both qualified as level 3 area search technicians. The K9 handlers provide a very valuable resource to the team, having the ability to search larger areas in a much shorter time than conventional foot teams. It can take up to 2 years to train a dog to become skilled in locating missing persons and our handlers do this alongside their normal search training with the wider team.
The assessment is a rigorous process where the handler and their dog have to locate a number of missing people over varied terrain against the clock. We are grateful for the dedication they bring to the team and congratulate them on their success.
We would also like to thank Surrey Search and Rescue for hosting the event.
