HRD dogs are trained to detect Human Remains. The Gardai may request the use of such a dog if they are looking for a missing person or suspect that the person has died as a result of a crime and may fear that a body has been disposed of in an unknown location. The dogs are trained to alert on the scent of decomposing human material, i.e. blood, hair, tissue, bones, teeth and /or bodily fluids. Some of these scents can hang around for a long time depending on the environment and weather. The dogs are trained in such a way that they do not interfere with a possible crime scene; the trained alert (behavior the dog shows when he finds something) can be a sit down, bark or a down. Training the dog involves the use of either artificial or natural scent sources, or a combination of both to obtain a wide spectrum scent source.

The K9 Handler will have certain responsibilities during a search, search tactics and protocols are being developed. The handler has trained in Holland, with the dog, a German Shepard X. A handlers training course was taught the first week in October last year, the dog arrived in Ireland in February 2006.

Our set up schedule was delayed when the original K9 “was retired” as he did not have the drive to keep searching without being distracted. The new replacement K9 was trained with great success. Finding the right personality traits in a SAR K9 can sometimes be a bit tricky. Laois County Council has kindly donated some funding for our SAR K9.

Rex, our HRD K9 resting	Rex, given playtime as reward
Rex Searching	Unit Logo
Dutch training school for detection K9’s

Our Civil Defence K9 Team will be under the command of the Civil Defence Officer for County Laois. Mr. L. Preston.All requests by statutory first line services will be coordinated and processed by the CDO, subsequently the K9 team may be deployed to provide its service to the police.Protocols will be put in place re management of the search and re responsibility of the search, our role within the SAR framework will be outlined.

When the unit becomes operational details will be published like contact phone numbers, email addresses etc. Our unit is not first line, it’s secondary to Garda requests for assistance. The Gardaí remain in charge with regards to the operational aspects of the search.

Laois Civil Defence would like to acknowledge generosity of the following sponsors:

Madra Dog Foods Ballaghmore-Borris-in-Ossory-Co.Laois Ph: 086-8757731	Vet Care Veterinary Hospital Unit 22, Portlaoise Shopping Centre Ph: 0502-64841
	Sheerans Sawmills Mountrath,Co. Laois Ph: 0502 56700