Canadian
canine search corps
WATER SEARCH and RECOVERY
CCSC trains our dogs to assist in locating and recovering drowned individuals.
Our dogs detect the scent of drowned victims when gas and liquid molecules are released from the body and rise to the water's surface. When in contact with these molecules the dogs alert, often by barking or displaying specific behavioural changes, signaling to their handler the high probability of human remains in the area.
Currents, temperature, wind direction, and speed are key variables that can complicate a water search. Once gases from the body reach the surface, the wind can carry and disperse the scent, making it more difficult to pinpoint the source. Temperature also plays a role, as it can either cause the scent to rise or trap it at the water’s surface, further challenging the dog’s ability to trace the odor back to its origin.
We deploy multiple dogs that work independently from one another. The dogs search both from the shoreline and from a boat in order to gather as much information as possible. Handlers use this information to narrow the search and move the dogs into the most concentrated scent pool in an attempt to identify an area of interest.
Once multiple dogs confirm an identified area of interest, we utilize additional resources, such as our side scanning sonar or underwater camera to further investigate. ​
Side scanning sonar emits sound waves that travel through the water, bouncing off objects with a different density than water. These signals return to the transducer, creating an image that allows us to 'see' images below the water line.
Any image of interest is then examined further using an underwater camera or by deploying divers for closer inspection. ​
