911
EMERGENCY
If you are in need of emergency assistance in locating a lost or missing person, call your local 911 NOW!
In most instances, you do not have to wait 24-hours to report a missing person.
LOST ANIMALS: If you are looking for someone to search for your missing animal call:
K2 Services, 360.665.5572 or 360-244-2540 (cell)
In the greater Seattle area see also Missing Pet Partnership at http://www.missingpetpartnership.org/index.php
WCSD can be only activated by a call from local, state or federal law enforcement agencies. We do not activate nor search for bad guys, bombs or drugs. If you represent an LE agency and are in need of a trailing search dog, we may be able to help.
SEARCH COORDINATORS
WCSD may be called into service by contacting:
Grays Harbor DEM at 360.249.3911 (weekdays) or 360.580.2281 (cell)
Washington State 24/7 Duty Officer: 1.800.258.5990
WCSD Call-Out Coordinators: 360.532.7470 or 360.359.2186
WHEN SHOULD YOU USE A DOG
Dogs should nearly always be considered as an early response resource no matter what the weather or conditions. They may be able to provide a direction of travel, find clues or evidence and help eliminate areas which do not need to be immediately "ground" searched. A dog is very agile at night and their scent awareness is enhanced due to the lowered temperature. The team may be able to provide the coordinator with visual information on the terrian and provide track awareness. These factors will allow the coordinator to determine a stronger search plan.
BEFORE WE ARRIVE
When you call on a WCSD search dog team as a SAR resource, there area few items you can do to help before our arrival.
1. Call for dogs as soon as possible. Please remember, we do not have red lights and sirens. Although our bags are packed, it takes time to get on scene. When you first get the report is the time to put dog teams on standby. Use time in your favor. The sooner the dog arrives, the "hotter" the track. We would much rather be turned around than wait for hours to be called to a cold track.
2. Please do not let the scent around the point last seen (PLS) be destroyed. Its only natural for everyone to stand around the PLS waiting to see what will next happen. What they may not know is that they are contaminating the area and possibly destroying the scent, footprints or other evidence left by the missing subject.
3. Keep as many vehciles away from the PLS as possible and those that do need to be there should have their engines turned off. Exhaust fumes can kill all trace of human scent.
4. We will bring all the equipment and personnel with us to give you our best effort but please have as much information assembled as you can acquire. Description of clothing, footwear, medical condition, maps and someone familiar with the area are all helpful in getting us into the field as quickly as possible.
WE NEED A SCENT ARTICLE
While dog handlers can be inventive as to how they obtain a scent article, you can be a great help in this area. As done with any article of evidence, do not let any one touch the item with their hand or place it on their person. Items of clothing are usually the best items for scent. Pillowcases or sleeping bags can fill the need. Place the item in a clear plastic bag with a stick, inverting the bag or using latex gloves. Do not use a bag which has been treated to kill garbage odors as the chemical may kill the scent of the subject.
If the scent will come from a vehicle, do not let anyone touch the steering wheel or sit where the subject was sitting. Do not let family members touch or be near the PLS with clothing from the subject. The dog will think it has made an easy find.
Some handlers may not like family members near their dog as they prepare for the field, as sometimes a common scent is carried among all members of a family.