Mounted search and rescue

["irvin lichtenstein" <ilichten1@verizon.net>]

Use of varied resources at the same time in the same area is the prerogative
of the search manager. It is dependent on the ability of the dogs to
discriminate between scents. An air scent dog that does not discriminate
will become confused by scent being blown in from other sectors and
searchers. Tracking or trailing dogs that work off a scent sample do not
have this problem. If you are working a public area a non-discriminating dog
can actually be a hindrance as it will alert on everyone.  Realize that you
should use every resource you have to quickly and efficiently find the
search subject. However, you must also realize that certain resources do not
play well together.  Low flying helicopters stir up dust and cover tracks
and disperse scent, ground pounders add their tracks and scent to the scene,
and so forth. The mot powerful resource you have is the human brain and its
ability to put the facts together and reach unsupported conclusions.  If you
have a point last seen or known preserving it as the trackers track, the
dogs scent, and the mounted use their brains, eyes, ears, and noses times
two, to work outward or leapfrog the trail is important. Making dog handlers
happy may not find the subject, so do what finds the subject and worry about
political correctness later.

Irv Lichtenstein