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WEST COAST SEARCH DOGS

Grays Harbor County, Washington

West Coast Search Dogs of Washington (WCSD) is an all volunteer organization of canine handlers and support members dedicated to search and recovery work. We avail ourselves and canines to assist law enforcement searching for lost children, Alzheimer's patients, hunters and hikers as described in Washington's WAC 118-04-100 (13). Our response teams also assist in criminal cases locating human trace evidence. Additionally we can assist in locating down aircraft using commercial (Little L-Pers) receivers. WCSD offers this service free of charge, night or day as a public service. Safety is always of prime importance. Once on scene, leadership will review the weather, the terrain and other circumstances to determine the safety aspect of the search in the order of the team and then the missing subject. We normally search as a team consisting of a dog, handler and at least one support member. All members carry their own GPS and communications. Dogs in this unit are trailing scent discriminating and may be trained in wilderness, urban, water, cadaver or evidence specialties. Each dog must pass an obedience and a temperament test before being allowed to train for a search specialty. Following unit verification in the various search specialties, a dog is then audited annually for temperament and every two years in each search specialty in which it is verified.

WCSD was founded in April of 1985. The unit has been incorporated as a non profit corporation pursuant to chapter 23.03 of the revised code of Washington and section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

WCSD members pay for nearly all their training, gear and dog items. Actual searches, training, meetings, time away from friends/family, your job and gear

costs add up to a level of commitment beyond many other volunteer memberships. (See joining WCSD)

Dogs of most any breed or mix of breeds up to the age of four are allowed if a beginning dog. Relocated SAR dogs of any age are welcome. Wolves, wolf hybrids or Shutzhund trained dogs will not be accepted.

WCSD requires all members to be trained as ground searchers. They must acquire classroom and field training in areas of Survival Techniques, First Aid, CPR, Blood Borne Pathogens, Map and Compass, Helicopter Operations, Incident Command System, The National Incident Management System, Search Techniques, Crime Scene, Evidence Recognition, Human Remains Operations, Radio Communications, Canine Tracking/Trailing, Track Laying, and Scent Theory.

WCSD also provides a community out reach program for children or adults on hiking safety and what to do when lost. See "Community Programs" for additional information.