MASSACHUSETTS
SEARCH DOG STANDARD
11/12/01 NOTE: This set of standards contains proposed CANINE CADAVER/BODY RECOVERY CERTIFICATION STANDARDS which are currently under development but not yet adopted. Changes made to the current MASARD Standards are indicated by the color RED. Changes made in accordance with discussions at the October 2001 MASARD Committee meeting are indicated by the color BLUE.
The "Massachusetts Search Dog Standard" set forth below has been adopted by the Massachusetts Search and Rescue Dog Committee ("MASARD Committee"). It is the intent of all user agencies and all SAR canine units which participated in the development of the "Massachusetts Search Dog Standard" to have this Standard serve as the minimum performance standard for all volunteer SAR canine teams intending to respond to SAR situations occurring within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts on or after Sunday, September 19, 1999.In its initial days, the MASARD Committee tasked itself to identify and to contact all SAR canine units whose designated response area was Massachusetts and who wished to participate in the development of the Massachusetts Search Dog Standards. Based upon input from all MASARD Committee members, the core group of SAR canine units which agreed to form the MASARD Committee consisted of the following SAR canine units (hereinafter referred to as "Participating SAR Canine Units"):
(1) Department of Environmental Management Canine Search Unit (DEM)
(2) Dukes County Search and Rescue, Inc. (DCSAR)
(3) Massachusetts Air-Scenting K9, Inc. (MASK9)
(4) Massachusetts Canine Response Team, Inc. (MACRT)
(5) Rescue Dogs, Inc. (RDI)
(6) Search Dogs Northeast, Inc. (SDNE)
Over a period of eighteen months, representatives of each Participating SAR Canine Unit regularly met to discuss the Standards. The Standards, as initially proposed, relied heavily on the "Search Dog Standards" prepared by the Maine Association for Search and Rescue ("MASAR") and which currently are in effect in and for the State of Maine. The MASARD Standards do, in fact, tract MASAR’s "Search Dog Standards" verbatim in many places and, therefore, the MASARD Committee wishes to officially acknowledge the assistance which MASAR and the Maine Search and Rescue Dogs ("MESARD") graciously supplied to this Committee. Each time the MASARD Committee developed a working draft, that draft was put out for general comment by user agencies in and for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, including the Massachusetts State Police, and by the members of each participating SAR canine unit. All suggested changes and additions which were submitted by applicable deadlines were discussed by the MASARD Committee.
The "Massachusetts Search Dog Standard," set forth below, is the culmination of those meetings and those comment periods. By unanimous vote of all Participating SAR Canine Units, the "Massachusetts Search Dog Standard" was adopted on September 15, 1999. Several amendments to the Standard were adopted on September 2, 2000. It is the intent of the MASARD Committee that the Standards, as amended from time to time, will define the minimum requirements necessary for any Massachusetts SAR canine team intending to respond to SAR situations occurring within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts on or after Sunday, September 19, 1999.
Please note that "Massachusetts Search Dog Standard" currently applies only to "Air-Scent Wilderness Dogs," "Tracking Dogs" and "Trailing Dogs." The "Massachusetts Search Dog Standard" does not yet address such other search specialties as "Article Detection," "Cadaver," "Water" and "Urban Disaster (Confined Space/Collapsed Structures)." Therefore, until performance standards relative to these specialties are drafted and adopted, the "Massachusetts Search Dog Standard" is not binding on any canine performing these other skills on or after Sunday, September 19, 1999. Additional meetings to discuss performance standards relative to the search specialties of "Article Detection," "Cadaver," "Water" and "Urban Disaster (Confined Space/Collapsed Structures)" will be scheduled throughout the upcoming months. Parties interested in participating in the development of performance standards in these areas should contact Gail McCarthy at her email address >>> mccarthy@macrt.org <<<.
Respectfully submitted,
The MASARD Committee
MASSACHUSETTS
SEARCH DOG STANDARD
I. Introduction
A. The following Search Dog Standard has been established to provide a centralized clearinghouse of search and rescue (SAR) services for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. To this end, the following standard will apply to all volunteer canine teams used in SAR situations within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
B. This standard is intended to define the minimum performance requirements necessary for any volunteer SAR canine team.
C. The certification issued under this standard is the requirement for those dog teams who wish to participate in SAR incidents occurring within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
D. In order to further the goals and objectives contained herein, a panel made up of two (2) representatives from interested user agencies in and for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts including, but not limited to the Massachusetts State Police, and by two (2) representative of each Certified SAR Canine Unit operating in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, will be formed. Such panel will be called the "Massachusetts Search Dog Standard Committee" and will operate under such terms and conditions yet to be developed except that each participating user agency and Certified SAR Canine Unit shall each have one (1) vote at any meeting at which a majority of the panel is present.
II. Certification
A. Initial Certification
1. Dog teams that complete the Certification Testing process set forth herein shall receive full certification as search dog teams under the Massachusetts Search Dog Standard.
2. To receive certification, a dog team must:
a. Submit a Letter of Recommendation from that dog team’s Certified SAR Canine Unit attesting that the dog team has completed the Certification Testing process set forth below in Sections (IV) and (V) along with copies of the applicable evaluation forms to the Massachusetts Search Dog Standard Committee;
b. Meet all applicable requirements as defined by this standard; and
c. Receive a passing score from the Field Evaluation Team in the applicable Search-Specific Certification Tests.
3. The initial dog team certification is valid for only one year.
B. Recertification
1. Each certified canine team must annually be recertified by the Certified SAR Canine Unit to which that dog team belongs. Recertification will require the fulfillment of one of the following:
a. Successful continuance an "in-house" training program administered by a Certified SAR Canine Unit. Written records attested to by the Certified SAR Canine Unit’s Training Officer (or equivalent) or the President of the Certified SAR Canine Unit shall be furnished to the Massachusetts Search Dog Standard Committee on an annual basis prior to recertifying the canine team; or
b. Successful completion of a course or courses in canine-related subjects which includes field competency tests that encompass all the requirements of the certification procedures contained in this Standard. If this section is used for recertification, written proof of successful completion must be furnished to the Massachusetts Search Dog Standard Committee prior to the issuance recertification. This method of recertification is predicated on the future development and approval of training programs that meet the goals and objectives of the Massachusetts Search Dog Standard as set forth herein.
2. A dog team which does not recertify annually through one of the procedures set forth above in Section II, Part B, Numbers (1)(a)-(b) must complete a Search-Specific Certification Test applicable to the type of search for which that dog team seeks re-certification, the selection of which test will be determined by the Massachusetts Search Dog Standard Committee provided, however, that such dog team has not been out of training for more than twelve (12) months, consecutively, in which case such dog team will need to complete the entire certification procedure outlined herein in Sections (IV) and (V).
III. Application of Certification Standards
A. These standards apply to the following types of search dog training:
1. Air Scent for Wilderness Search
2. Tracking
3. TrailingB. Search Specialties
1. Other search specialties, such as those listed below, shall be evaluated based on additional specific standards and evaluation tests to be hereinafter developed, approved and/or adopted by the Massachusetts Search Dog Standard Committee:
a. Article Search/Clue Detection (Under development)
b. Water (Under development)
c. Cadaver (Proposed)
d. Urban Disaster-Live Find (Confined Space/Collapsed Structures) (It is anticipated that FEMA’s Disaster Search Canine Readiness Evaluation Process will be adopted)
e. Urban Disaster-Cadaver (Confined Space/Collapsed Structures) (It is anticipated that FEMA’s Disaster Search Canine Readiness Evaluation Process will be modified for these "Cadaster Standards.")
f. Avalanche (Under development)2. Additional information relative to the search specialties listed above in Section III, Part B, is more fully set forth in Section V, Part C, Number 3.
IV. Required Documentation for Certification
The dog team must show documentation of the following before beginning
Certification Testing:
A. The handler has current certification in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as a basic ground searcher obtained through a FUNSAR course or an equivalent.
B. The handler has training in basic canine first aid.
C. The handler has taken the Land Navigation course(s) currently offered by the Massachusetts State Police or an equivalent orienteering course(s).
D. The handler has taken a course(s) on Basic First Aid (CPR and/or First Responder certification is encouraged but is optional).
E. The handler demonstrates physical fitness by being able to hike three (3) miles in moderate terrain with field pack (including water for handler and canine) in under two (2) hours.
F. The handler has provided sufficient information for a criminal background check to be performed by the Massachusetts State Police.
G. The handler keeps clear and accurate training records.
H. The dog has demonstrated in the presence of Certified SAR Canine Unit members or others the ability to ride quietly in watercraft, aircraft or other motorized transportation vehicles.
V. Certification Testing
A. Basic Testing Conditions for Air Scent Wilderness, Tracking and Trailing Certification Tests. With the exception of conditions that apply to live subjects, the following requirements also will apply to Cadaver Certification Tests.
1. All testing will be of the handler and dog only.
2. Search subjects must be unknown to the dog.
3. Search subject will be hidden and silent.
4. Search areas must be unfamiliar to the dog team undergoing testing.
5. Dog handlers will be provided with an adequate map.
6. Dog teams will not be required to test in conditions other than those in which they would be expected to search.
7. Before beginning the test, the dog handler shall describe to the Field Evaluation Team the search plan to be used based on the scenario provided him by the Field Evaluation Team.
8. Before beginning the test, the dog handler shall describe the dog's alert and indication to the Field Evaluation Team.
9. The Massachusetts Search Dog Standard Committee reserves the option to independently test applicants with a Field Evaluation Team of its own choosing.
B. Pre-requisites to Certification Testing (the following applies to Air-Scent Wilderness, Tracking, Trailing and Cadaver Tests):
1. Equipment: The handler shall show that she/he is equipped with the minimum equipment for a basic ground searcher (suggested minimum equipment is listed in Appendix "D."
2. Aggression and Obedience Testing: The canine on incident must be under the control of the handler at all times, capable of heeling through crowds, and non-aggressive to both people and other canines. When tested, the dog must not bite or snap at either humans or dogs, or growl at humans, in the following situations (excepting that a dog who is attacked by another dog will not be penalized for self-defense):
a. Aggression Testing
i.. While in a heeling position with the handler, a neutral stranger will approach the handler of the canine and engage in conversation with the handler but ignore the canine;
ii. Upon completion of the encounter with the neutral stranger, the handler and a friendly stranger will be directed to walk toward each other and the friendly stranger will engage in conversation with the handler and also make direct, but non-threatening, physical and verbal overtures to the canine (ie, speaking to the canine, reaching out and petting the canine): and
iii. While walking on a leash loose, the handler and canine shall complete a Figure "8" around two handlers with their canines ("post team") on lead, sitting at their side, and spaced eight feet apart. The handler and canine shall complete the pattern, on loose leash, passing within two feet of each post team.
b. Obedience Testing
i. With the exception of tracking or trailing dogs which do not work off-leash, the handler and canine must perform the following commands as directed while heeling off-leash through a group of not less than five milling people:
* Right Turn
* Left Turn
* About Turn
* Halt
* Change of Pace (fast, slow, normal)ii. "Heeling" is defined as the canine maintaining position at either side of the handler so as to be attentive to the handler and under his or her control at all times.
iii. Additional or repetitive commands are acceptable.
C. Search-Specific Air-Scent Wilderness Certification Tests
1. A dog team must pass all of the search-specific tests listed for the type of search for which that dog team wishes to be certified. During these tests, as applicable, the handler, in conjunction with his or her SAR dog, must demonstrate the following required skills:
a. Demonstrate the ability to report clearly on a map the following information after searching an area, demonstrating a knowledge of how to evaluate the clues inherent in the dog's alert(s) and behavior:
i. Areas and/or routes covered.
ii. Estimated probability of detection for the dog team based on environmental and terrain conditions.
iii. Location of alerts.
iv. Wind direction and other observed environmental factors which may be pertinent to the search effort.
v. Location of any clues encountered during the search
b. Demonstrate the ability to plan an efficient search, best utilizing the wind and existing environmental conditions to provide maximum coverage of the terrain.
c. Demonstrate the ability to work and control the dog in a variety of areas, terrains, and conditions
d. Demonstrate adequate agility for wilderness search.
e. Demonstrate that the handler recognizes when the dog is alerting to human scent.
f. Demonstrate the ability to judge sweeps of areas as to their suitability to the prevailing conditions.
g. Demonstrate that s/he recognizes when either member of the dog team is working ineffectively and take action to compensate for or remedy the situation.
h. Demonstrate that the handler and SAR dog have the ability to work effectively and find a victim with an additional person or persons accompanying the dog team.
I. Demonstrate the ability to find the victim, and, in the case of an air scent dog, perform a clearly recognizable refind or bark alert that is sufficient to convey to both the handler and the evaluator that the dog has found the victim and the precise location of the victim.
j. Show that the dog team can be part of the overall SAR mission by demonstrating an understanding of the purposes of other SAR resources and the Incident Command System.
2. Field Tests for Air-Scent Wilderness Search
a. Trail Search (Canine Free-Ranging)
i. The trail shall be between ½ and 1 mile in length in moderate terrain.
ii. The search subject shall be hidden within 30 feet of the trail.
iii. The search subject shall fulfill one of the following conditions:
1. Be hidden upwind of the trail;
2. Have walked down the trail and hidden downwind; or
3. Have crossed the trail and hidden downwind.
v. The dog team shall be limited to one pass down the trail and back.
b. Heavy Brush Search
I. Dog team must be able to find one search subject in an area of approximately 40 acres of lightly rolling topography which includes wooded areas and brush.
ii. The test shall be completed in 3 hours or less.
c. Night Search
I. Dog team must be able to find one search subject in an area of approximately 40 acres of moderate terrain covered with light brush at night.
ii. The test shall be completed in 3 hours or less.
d. Large Area Search
I. Dog teams must be able to find one search subject in an area of approximately 160 acres of moderate terrain.
ii. The test shall be completed within 8 hours.
D. Scent Discriminating Search Dogs – TRACKING DOGS
1. Basic Tracking Dog
a. Test Track Description.
Age: 3-6 hours
Length: 1 mile
Terrain: Variable. One (1) stream crossing possible in test area.
Habituation: Rural and light suburban. Trail to cross variable surfaces; woods, fields, one paved road crossing. If following along a foot trail, subject must leave trail at some point during the track.
Start Area: Lightly traveled area, a minimum of two observers present at start.b. Scent Articles.
Type: Simple type; bagged and provided.
Number: There shall be five articles left by the subject along the test track.
Variety: Of these articles, three shall be small items such as a wallet, mitten or keys; the remaining two articles shall be large items such as a jacket or other large item of personal clothing recently worn by the subject.c. The dog shall locate and identify a minimum of three articles left by the subject.
d. One (1) person unknown to the dog shall lay the track.
e. At a point no closer than 1/2 mile from the start, there shall be two (2) cross tracks laid, just prior to the start of the test.
f. The subject shall also include within the track one (1) or two (2) false (backtracked) trails and one (1) scent pooled area where the subject has stopped for 10- 15 minutes.
g. There shall be two (2) people at the end of the trail. The dog shall correctly identify the subject.
h. There is no time limit for this test so long as the dog is working.
i. The handler is permitted one re-start if they feel their dog is not working properly.
j. Re-scenting of the dog during the test is permitted.
k. Grading will be "Pass" or "Fail" and the decision of the evaluators as to whether the dog is "working" or whether the dog has "passed " or "failed" the test is the sole discretion of the evaluators and is final.
E. Scent Discriminating Search Dogs – TRAILING DOGS
1. Basic Trailing Dog -- Level 1 (6-12 Hour Evaluation)
a. Test Track Description.
Age: 6-12 hours old
Length: 3/4 - 1 mile
Terrain: Variable. One (1) stream crossing possible within the test area.
Habitation: Rural. Trail to cross variable surfaces: grass, woodland, foot trails, one secondary road crossing
Start Area: Lightly traveled area. Two (2) observers present at the start.b. Scent Article.
Type: Simple scent type: provided and bagged.
c. Dog shall cast for track and determine correct direction of travel.
d. Trail to be laid by one (1) person unknown to the dog.
e. There shall be two (2) other people at the end of the trail in addition to the trail layer.
f. The dog shall identify the correct subject.
e. There is no time limit so long as the dog is working.
g. The handler is permitted one re-start if they feel their dog is not working properly.
h. Re-scenting of the dog during the test is permitted.
i. Grading will be "Pass" or "Fail" and the decision of the evaluators as to whether the dog is "working" or whether the dog has "passed " or "failed" the test is the sole discretion of the evaluators and is final.
2. Basic Trailing Dog -- Level 2 (18-24 Hour Evaluation)
a. Test Track Description
Age: 18 - 24 hours old
Length: 1 mile
Terrain: Variable.
Habituation: Light suburban into rural. Trail to cross variable surfaces: paved secondary road, sidewalk, grass, foot trails, woodlands.
Start Area: Moderately traveled area. Two (2) observers present at the start.b. Scent Article.
Type: Vehicle seat or personal clothing (recently worn by the subject). Handler is to create a scent article for their dog from one of these two sources.
c. Dog shall cast for track and determine the correct direction of travel.
d. Trail to be laid by one (1) person unknown to the dog.
e. There shall be two (2) other people at the end of the trail, in addition to the trail layer.
f. The dog shall identify the correct subject.
g. There is no time limit so long as the dog is working.
h. The handler is permitted one re-start if they feel their dog is not working properly.
i. Rescenting of the dog during the test is permitted.
j. Grading will be "Pass" or "Fail" and the decision of the evaluators as to whether the dog is "working" or whether the dog has "passed " or "failed" the test is the sole discretion of the evaluators and is final.
3. Advanced Trailing Dog (Urban Trail)
a. Test Track Description.
Age: 2-4 hours old
Length: 3/4 mile
Terrain: Variable. Surfaces typical of the urban environment such as paved surfaces, building exterior, intersections, vegetated surfaces.
Habitation: Urban
Start Area: Contaminated start on a natural surface such as grass or mulch. Two (2) observers present at the start.b. Scent Article.
Type: Simple type; bagged and provided.
c. Dog to cast for track and determine correct direction of travel.
d. Trail to be laid by one person unknown to the dog.
e. There shall be two other people at the end of the trail in addition to the trail layer.
f. The dog shall identify the correct subject.
g. There is no time limit so long as the dog is working.
h. The handler is permitted one (1) re-start if they feel their dog is not working properly.
i. Re-scenting the dog during the test is permitted.
j. Grading will be "Pass" or "Fail" and the decision of the evaluators as to whether the dog is "working" or whether the dog has "passed " or "failed" the test is the sole discretion of the evaluators and is final.
F. Search Specialties
1. In order to be included as a resource in one of the search specialties listed in Section III, Part B, the dog team shall present to the Massachusetts Search Dog Standard Committee documentation of proficiency in any such specialty.
2. Dog teams specializing in one of the search specialties listed in Section III, Part B, need not also be certified as an Air Scent for Wilderness Search dog team nor as a Tracking or a Trailing dog team.
3. Dog teams which successfully complete an evaluation in a specialty area defined in Section III, Part B, may petition the Massachusetts Search Dog Standard Committee to have the specific standards and evaluation under which they tested be approved by the Massachusetts Search Dog Standard Committee.
4. The Massachusetts Search Dog Standard Committee may recommend acceptance of standards and evaluation tests currently adopted and being implemented by other certification agencies in lieu of standards and tests developed by the Massachusetts Search Dog Standard Committee, and may require that dog teams requesting certification in one of the above specialized search techniques meet such standards and tests until such time as the Massachusetts Search Dog Standard Committee develops its own standards and tests in these specialties.
5. It shall be the responsibility of the dog team requesting certification in a specialty area not defined in Section III, Part B, to submit a copy of the specialty's standard and evaluation testing criteria.
6. Provisional standards for Search Specialties currently under development are set forth below:
a. Article Search/Clue Detection (Under development)
i. The search area shall be 50 yards by 50 yards.
ii. Five scent articles as described in Section V, Part C, Number 3(b)(i)(9), above shall be placed in the search area, 1-3 hours before the test.
iii. The scent articles shall be hidden from sight.
iv. The dog team will be allowed ten (10) minutes to complete its search of the area.
v. The dog team must locate at least three of the five scent articles hidden in this area.
b. Basic and Advanced Canine Cadaver/Body Recovery Certifications (Proposed)
1. General Considerations
a. Collectively, the Basic and the Advanced Canine Cadaver/Body Recovery Certifications, as set forth below, are designed to ensure that the canine passing these requirements can search reliably for human remains in area search situations.
b. Canine teams whose primary focus is finding lost and missing people may want to certify under these standards.
c. The successful completion of these standards is a prerequisite for those canine teams wishing to respond as specialty search teams in the area of human remains detection.
d. The Canine Cadaver/Body Recovery Certification Requirements must be signed-off by a Cadaver Certified Canine Handler, who was certified under the following certification standards, or by an Air Scent Wilderness Handler, who was certified under the MASARD Air Scent Wilderness Standards, if no Cadaver Certified Canine Handler has yet been certified in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts under these standards.
e. The evaluators will use the attached Evaluation Forms when conducting the Certification Process.
f. Each handler must successfully complete the Basic Certification Screening and Basic Scent Sign-Offs before taking the Basic Cadaver Scent Field Evaluation. Each handler must then successfully complete the Advanced Certification Screening and the Advanced Scent Sign-Off before taking the Advanced Cadaver Scent Field Evaluation.
g. The purpose of these Basic and Advanced Certification Screenings and Sign-Offs are to evaluate the team’s readiness to participate in the Basic and Advanced Cadaver Scent Field Evaluations, respectively, and to ensure that all canines responding to searches for human remains: (1) are under the handler’s control; (2) will work side-by-side other dogs and other response personnel; (3) are not distracted by the sounds, smells and adverse footing possibly found in emergency response situations involving the loss of a human life; (4) will independently recognize the odor of human remains; (5) will independently indicate the find to the handler and to observers; and (6) do so in a manner that is not destructive of source material.
h. The Basic Canine Cadaver/Body Recovery Certification will be valid for two (2) years from the date the canine team successfully completes the Basic Cadaver Scent Field Evaluation. The Advanced Canine Cadaver/Body Recovery certification will be valid for two (2) years from the date the canine team successfully completes both of the Advanced Cadaver Scent Field Evaluations. If a canine team which successfully completes the Basic Canine Cadaver/Body Recovery Certification does not go on to complete the Advanced Canine Cadaver/Body Recovery Certification within the two (2) year period during which the Basic Canine Cadaver/Body Recovery Certification is valid, the canine team must re-certify at the Basic Level.
i. No rewards will be allowed during the following portions of the Certification Process: Aggression Test, Obedience Test, Agility Test and Basic Indication Station.
j. Training aids such as food, balls, tugs, toys, and the like may be used during the Basic and Advanced Cadaver Scent Sign-Offs and the Basic and the Advanced Cadaver Scent Field Evaluations. However, handlers must notify the evaluators if the handler intends to use a food reward during a Field Evaluation and care should be used to select a type of food reward that will leave no food remains in the search area. The decision to reward or not to reward is left to the discretion of the handler but all handlers should understand that the Advanced Cadaver Scent Field Evaluations may contain distractions (ie, food wrappers and other trash, animal remains etc).
k. With the exception of the "Surface Blood Basic Cadaver Scent Sign-Off," there will be no set amount of source material that must be used for the Basic Cadaver Indication Station, for any of the Basic or Advanced Cadaver Scent Sign-Offs, or for the Basic or Advanced Cadaver Scent Field Evaluations. However, upon request of the testing-handler, another canine, which has been imprinted on cadaver-scent (at a minimum) will be run through the search areas to ensure that scent in an amount sufficient to allow detection is available to the testing-canine at each source location.
l. All handlers are responsible for their own personal health and safety but, at a minimum, each handler should have current immunizations against Tetanus and Hepatitis B before initiating any portion of the Certification Process.
2. Basic Canine Cadaver/Body Recovery Certification
a. Basic Certification Screening
1. Aggression Test
i. The canine must successfully complete the Aggression Test set forth in Section V, Part B, Number 2(a) of the "Massachusetts Search Dog Standard," effective September 19, 1999 and as amended September 2, 2000.
2. Functional Obedience
i. The canine must successfully complete the Obedience Test set forth in Section V, Part B, Number 2(b) of the "Massachusetts Search Dog Standard," effective September 19, 1999 and as amended September 2, 2000.
3. Agility Test
i. The canine should demonstrate controlled agility by successfully navigating: (1) across a 4’ high cat walk; (2) through a tunnel; (3) jumping up onto surface approximately 10" higher than the canine’s height at the withers; and (4) demonstrate comfort and relaxation on a rubble pile approximately ten (10’) feet high and twenty (20’) feet square by walking along with the handler for five (5) minutes.
4. Map and Compass
i. The handler must take a Land Navigation course(s) currently offered by the Massachusetts State Police or an equivalent orienteering course(s).
5. Training Logs
i. The canine team must verify at least six (6) months of current training in cadaver/body recovery work. Handlers are to keep complete training records throughout the life of the dog's training. Training Logs must be kept current at all times.
b. Indication Station
1. The purpose of this station is to ensure that the canine will independently recognize, and independently indicate, on the odor of human remains.
2. The handler will describe to the evaluator what the canine’s indication will be. For the purposes of this station (as well as in all Screenings, Sign-Offs and Field Tests comprising the remainder of the Canine Cadaver/Body Recovery Certification Testing Process), an "indication" is defined as a "trained or reinforced behavior by which the canine communicates a find to the handler." Such indication must be consistent throughout the Certification Testing Process and must be easily recognizable by someone other than the handler (ie, the evaluator). Finally, the indication performed by the canine must not disturb the source material or any other evidence in the area of the find.
3. One (1) scent source will be placed in an open area that is 10 yards by 10 yards and a minimum of 30 minutes prior to the canine working the problem.
4. The location of the scent source will be readily visible to both canine and handler but the scent source itself will be placed in a container rendering it inaccessible to the canine.
5. The handler will start the canine approximately ten (10) yards downwind of the scent source.
6. The canine must go to the location of the scent source and give the indication specified by the handler. The canine must also preserve the source. If the canine does not go directly to source, the handler may use additional commands, as necessary, to direct the canine to the source location but once the canine engages the source scent (ie, the canine’s behavior indicates to observers that the canine has encountered the scent source and that the canine recognizes the scent), the handler may not talk or signal the canine in any way and the canine must independently perform its trained or reinforced indication.
7. The handler must remain in the assigned starting area until the dog commits to, and indicates, the find. At that time, handler may approach and praise the dog, put on the leash and quickly leave the area.
8. The time allotted for the canine to search for and to independently commit to and indicate the find is 5 minutes.
b. Basic Cadaver Scent Sign-Offs
1. The canine team must demonstrate the ability to find, and to properly indicate, the following scent sources: (1) surface blood; (2) buried cadaver scent; (3) hanging cadaver scent; and (4) cadaver scent located in an interior environment.
2. Each of the scent sources listed above will be hidden in a search area not to exceed 20 yards by 20 yards and a minimum of 30 minutes prior to the canine working the problem.
3. There will be only one (1) scent source in each search area.
4. The location of the scent source will not be known to canine team.
5. Canine must not indicate on anything other than a scent source (ie, no false indications permitted).
6. Evaluators will ensure that each of the four (4) scent sources are placed within a search area as follows:
i. Surface Blood.
a. Scent item shall be a minimum of 3cc of human blood on a 4" x 4" gauze pad exposed to air for at least 48 hours.
b. The human blood source will be concealed from the canine and not obvious to the handler.
ii. Buried Cadaver Scent.
a. Cadaver scent shall be buried approximately 15 inches in porous/permeable soil. For the purpose of this Sign-Off, the phrase "porous/permeable soil" shall be defined as "a hole filled with rocks, bark, grass, loose soft dirt -- not a dense sealed hole of clay or mud."
b. One (1) or two (2) false holes must be made no closer than twenty (20) feet from the scent source.
c. The hole is designed to be concealed – not obvious to the handler. The definition of concealed is "lightly covered with something, disguised, hidden in grass, placed in a bush, tucked under something, but not obvious to the handler. False holes shall be included in the search area."
d. Dog must not disturb the source material or any other evidence in the area of the find.
iii. Hanging Cadaver Scent.
a. The cadaver scent source will be suspended approximately three (3) feet from the ground and not readily visible to the canine and handler.
iv. Interior Environment Cadaver Scent.
a. The interior search area shall be approximately the size of a standard two-car garage and not a confined space.
b. The cadaver scent source will be placed on or close to the floor (less than one foot above the floor) in an interior environment.
c. The cadaver scent source will be inaccessible to the dog and not readily visible to the dog or to the handler.
7. One of the search areas must include a "dead animal distraction" to consist of "a dead animal or parts of a dead animal (including tissue, bone and hair)." The dead animal distraction will be on top of the ground but will not be obvious to the canine or handler (ie, will be covered with leaves, branches, etc). The canine must not indicate on the animal.
8. The canine team will have twenty (20) minutes to complete each Scent Sign-Offs.
9. All four (4) Scent Sign-Offs must be performed on the same day.
10. The canine team must successfully complete each Scent Sign-Off by finding the particular scent source in each search area. If a canine team fails to find one (1) scent source, the canine team will be permitted to schedule a re-test of the particular scent source that was missed. If the canine team misses the scent source a second time, or if the canine team missed two (2) or more scent sources during the initial day of testing, then the canine team may not re-test for a period of two (2) months after which the canine team must repeat each of the four (4) Scent Sign-Offs.
c. Basic Cadaver Scent Field Evaluation
1. The Basic Cadaver Scent Field Evaluation demonstrates the ability of the handler to strategize the search of a search-sector properly, to grid a search-sector properly, for the canine to independently search for, locate and indicate the location of cadaver scent and the ability of the handler to correctly read the canine.
2. The Basic Cadaver Scent Field Evaluation shall be a one (1) acre search area (70 yards by 70 yards) with the boundaries clearly marked.
3. The area should be mixed with some open areas, trees, brush, rocks, etc.
4. The evaluators should have a clear view of the dog's work.
5. One (1) to two (2) cadaver scent sources shall be placed at least one (1) hour prior to the canine working the problem.
6. The number of cadaver scent sources will be unknown to the handler.
7. Canine must not indicate on anything other than a scent source (ie, no false indications permitted).
8. The cadaver scent sources shall be drawn from the same categories of scent sources as used in the Scent Sign-Offs, but at least one (1) scent source shall be the Buried Scent Source (ie, scent source buried 15 inches in "porous/permeable soil" as defined above).
9. The test shall not include known animal remains.
10. Only one (1) dog can be tested in a search area per day.
11. The handler and canine shall work the problem blind.
12. The canine team will have a maximum of one (1) hour to locate all scent sources.
13. The evaluators shall brief the canine team and describe the boundaries.
14. The handler must describe his/her search strategy prior to starting the Basic Cadaver Scent Field Evaluation and must notify the evaluators immediately should circumstances arise requiring the handler to deviate from the initial search strategy.
15. The handler may direct the canine to search but is not permitted to encourage the canine’s indication.
16. The canine team must find all scent sources in the search area to successfully complete the Basic Cadaver Scent Field Evaluation. If a canine team fails to find all scent sources in the search area, the canine team must repeat the Basic Cadaver Scent Field Evaluation within one (1) year. Should the canine team not re-test within one (1) year, the canine will need to repeat the four (4) Initial Scent Sign-Offs prior to re-testing.
3. Advanced Canine Cadaver/Body Recovery Certification
a. Advanced Certification Screening
1. The canine team must have successfully completed the Basic Certification Screening, the Basic Cadaver Scent Sign-Offs, and the Basic Cadaver Scent Field Evaluation prior to initiating the Advanced Canine Cadaver/Body Recovery Certification.
2. The canine team’s training records must be up to date and the canine team must be able to document evidence of at least one (1) year of Cadaver/body recovery work, including training and any searches.
3. The handler must present a Curriculum Vitae that is current for the canine team (within 2 months).
4. The handler must hold a current certificate of completion for a "Haz Mat First Responder Awareness," or the equivalent.
5. The handler must present with the following equipment: measuring tape [50 feet]; camera; latex gloves; Human Osteology Field Guide; flagging tape; reversible and discrete (or disguised) vest for canine (if the canine works in a vest); paper; pen; assorted plastic bags; probe; small trowel; small brush; hand disinfectant.
b. Advanced Cadaver Scent Sign-Off
1. The canine team must demonstrate the ability to find, and to properly indicate, on a human bone.
2. One (1) human bone will be placed in a search area not to exceed 20 yards by 20 yards and a minimum of 30 minutes prior to the canine working the problem.
3. There shall be one (1) animal bone placed not less than six (6) feet away from the human bone.
4. Both the animal bone and the human bone will be visible.
5. The canine shall indicate on the human bone and ignore the animal bone.
6. Dog must not disturb the scent source or any other evidence in the area of the find.
7. The canine team will have twenty (20) minutes to complete this Scent Sign-Off.
8. As both the animal bone and human bone will be visible, the handler must exercise great care to not signal the canine in any way by voice or body position to indicate on one bone or another. Rather, the handler must allow the canine to search independently and to independently perform its trained or reinforced indication on the bone the canine selects.
9. If the canine team fails to correctly find the one (1) human bone or if the canine incorrectly indicates on the animal bone, the canine team will be permitted to schedule a re-test of this Scent Sign-Off. Failure to re-test will not jeopardize the canine team’s Basic Canine Cadaver/Body Recovery Certification for the remaining length of time that Certification is valid; however, the canine team may not take either of the Advanced Cadaver Scent Field Evaluations until the Human Bone Scent Sign-Off is successfully completed.
c. Advanced Cadaver Scent Field Evaluation
1. There are two Advanced Cadaver Scent Field Evaluations: (i) Vehicle Search Evaluation; and (ii) Building Search Evaluation.
2. Each of the two Advanced Cadaver Scent Field Evaluations is designed to test the ability of the handler to strategize the search of a search-sector properly, to deploy the canine in a search-sector properly, for the canine to independently search for, locate and indicate the location of cadaver scent and the ability of the handler to correctly read the canine.
3. Each of the Advanced Cadaver Scent Field Evaluations may contain distractions (ie, food wrappers and other trash, animal remains etc).
4. The Advanced Cadaver Scent Field Evaluations should be performed on the same day and efforts should be made to secure test locations allowing for both Advanced Cadaver Scent Field Evaluations to be conducted on the same day. However, if the necessary search venues are not available at the same test location or within a reasonable driving distance of each other, then the two Evaluations may be completed on separate days. In the event that the Evaluations are performed on separate days, the completion dates of each Evaluation should not be more than four (4) weeks apart.
5. The evaluators should have a clear view of the dog's work.
6. Neither Evaluation will include known animal remains but there may be other distractions placed in the search areas that the canine must ignore (ie, food, trash, articles of clothing, etc).
7. Only one (1) canine team can be tested in a search area per day.
8. The handler and canine shall work the problems blind.
9. The evaluators shall brief the canine team and describe the boundaries.
10. The handler must describe his/her search strategy prior to starting each of the Advanced Cadaver Scent Field Evaluations and must notify the evaluators immediately should circumstances arise requiring the handler to deviate from the initial search strategy.
11. The handler may direct the canine to search but is not permitted to encourage the canine’s indication.
12. The canine team must find all scent sources in each search area to successfully complete the Advanced Cadaver Scent Field Evaluation.
13. If a canine team fails to find all of the scent sources in the first Field Evaluation, the canine team will not be permitted to go on to take the second Field Evaluation but rather must schedule a re-test of the first Field Evaluation. If a canine team finds all of the scent sources in the first Field Evaluation but fails to find all of the scent sources in the second Field Evaluation, the canine team will be permitted to schedule a re-test of the second Field Evaluation but such re-test must be done within a four (4) week period. Failure to go on to re-test will not jeopardize the canine team’s Basic Canine Cadaver/Body Recovery Certification for the remaining length of time that Certification is valid; however, the canine team must successfully complete both of the Advanced Cadaver Scent Field Evaluations within one (1) year after completing the Advanced Cadaver Scent Sign-Off. Should the canine team not re-test within one (1) year, or if the canine fails to find all of the scent sources in either Field Evaluation on the second try, the canine team will need to repeat the Advanced Cadaver Scent Sign-Off prior to re-testing. If the canine team does not complete the Advanced Canine Cadaver/Body Recovery Certification prior to the expiration of the Basic Canine Cadaver/Body Recovery Certification, the canine team must re-certify at the Basic Level before re-attempting the Advanced Canine Cadaver/Body Recovery Certification.
14. Each of the following two (2) Advanced Cadaver Scent Field Evaluations must be completed:
i. Vehicle Search Evaluation
1. There will be one (1) to three (3) scent sources placed in and/or around various vehicles parked adjacent to one another and a minimum of 30 minutes prior to the canine working the problem.
2. There shall be up to ten (10) vehicles located in an area up to one half (1/2) acre in size (35 yards by 35 yards) with the boundaries clearly marked.
3. Scent sources can be placed at levels from the ground to eight (8) feet high.
4. The number of scent sources placed in the vehicles will be unknown to the handler.
5. Negative vehicles should be assured by testers to have not contained a scent source previously.
6. The canine team will have a maximum of one (1) hour to locate all scent sources.
7. The canine must locate all scent sources placed in the search area.
8. Canine must not indicate on anything other than a scent source (ie, no false indications permitted).
9. The handler may direct the canine to search but is not permitted to encourage the canine’s indication.
ii. Building Search Evaluation
1. There will be one (1) to three (3) scent sources placed in a building and a minimum of 30 minutes prior to the canine working the problem.
2. Building shall be at least 2000 square feet and preferably have more than one (1) room.
3. Scent sources can be placed at levels from floor to eight (8) feet high.
4. The number of scent sources placed in the building will be unknown to the handler.
5. The canine team will have a maximum of one (1) hour to locate all scent sources.
6. The canine must locate all scent sources placed in the search area.
7. Canine must not indicate on anything other than a scent source (ie, no false indications permitted).
8. The handler may direct the canine to search but is not permitted to encourage the canine’s indication.
VI. Evaluation Procedures
A. Evaluation Team
1. The Field Evaluation Team shall conduct the applicable Search-Specific Certification Testing.
2. The Field Evaluation Team shall be comprised of evaluator(s) who are, at minimum, a Certified Canine Handler from that handler’s Certified SAR Canine Unit. If requested by the handler, a second Certified Canine Handler from the same or different Certified SAR Canine Unit may join the Field Evaluation Team. Upon request of the Massachusetts State Police, a Massachusetts State Police Canine Handler may join any Field Evaluation Team as an evaluator.
3. The handler of a dog team to be tested, or the unit of which that handler is a member, may request that the Field Evaluation Team consist of two people.
4. No one Field Evaluation Team shall perform all of the required Search-Specific Certification Tests of any one dog team.
5. For the purposes of this section, Certified Canine Handlers who are serving as Field Evaluation Team members must themselves have passed all Search-Specific Certification Tests described in Sections (IV) and (V) relative to the type of search for which they are to serve as evaluators.
6. For the purposes of this section, a Certified SAR Canine Unit is a unit whose Certification Testing process implementing the certification requirements of this Standard including, but not limited to Sections (IV) and (V) herein, has been approved by the Massachusetts State Police following the evaluation criteria set forth in Appendix "B." (Evaluation criteria is under development and will be set forth in Appendix "B").
7. Throughout the first year beginning on the effective date of these standards, and continuing thereafter as required by the Massachusetts State Police, each Certified SAR Canine Unit that intends to sponsor any Search-Specific Certification Test must notify the Massachusetts State Police of the date, time and place of : (i) each 40-acre and 160-acre Air Scent Certification Test; (ii) each Search and Rescue Dog Tracking Certification Test; or (iii) each Basic Tracking Dog Certification Test being held at least five (5) days prior to the date of the Test in the manner hereinafter set forth in Appendix "C." A representative of the Massachusetts State Police may attend any such Search-Specific Certification Test as an observer or join the Field Evaluation Team as an evaluator without prior notice.
B. Separate evaluation forms shall be used by each member of the Field Evaluation Team and each shall be signed after completion of each test.
C. The evaluators shall document the dog team separately, and shall compare their evaluation forms only after the test has been completed.
D. Scoring of the required skills performed by each dog team will be limited to either "Completed" or "Did Not Complete" and the evaluation forms will be designed to allow the evaluators to quickly check whether the dog team successfully completed a given required skill.
E. Each required skill must be successfully completed in order to pass the test.
F. In the event that one evaluator gives a failing score on a required skill, the Field Evaluation Team must reach consensus.
G The handler may request that the test be repeated when consensus within the Field Evaluation Team cannot be reached.
H. Evaluator instructions:
1. The objectives of the certification tests are:
a. Evaluation of the handler's planning ability and search techniques.
b. Observation of the dog's ability to detect scent, communicate the search subject's location to the handler, and locate the search subject.
2. It is the responsibility of the evaluators to ensure the following:
a. The search subjects are properly dressed for the conditions.
b. The search subjects have adequate food, water, and other necessary equipment to remain for the duration of the test, and are able to contact the evaluators by radio in an emergency.
c. The search subject shall be placed in the search area prior to the arrival of the dog team and shall be located such that the dog team should search a substantial portion of the area before the subject is located.
d. The Field Evaluation Team shall terminate the test if in their opinion it becomes hazardous to any of the participants.
e. The Field Evaluation Team shall have discretion in the administration and evaluation of all portions of the test.
VII. Re-Testing
A. At the discretion of the Field Evaluation Team, a dog team may re-test with minimal delay (not to exceed 60 days) if the handler fails Section V, Part B, Number 1 (Equipment) or if the dog team fails one of the tests in Section V, Part B, Number 2(b) (Obedience) or Section V, Part C, Numbers 2 (Search-Specific Certification Tests) . Failure of a retest requires that the team must reapply to be tested for certification, and may do so only after a waiting period of not less than 60 days.
B. A dog team failing any of the tests in Section V, Part B, Number 2(a) (Aggression) may be re-tested only on successful appeal. Upon failure of a second test, the dog team shall have no right of appeal.
VIII. Appeals
A. A dog team that fails any test or requirement in this standard may appeal the decision of the Field Evaluation Team to the Massachusetts Search Dog Standard Committee in the manner set forth below:
1. The appeal must be submitted in writing.
2. The appeal must be postmarked no later than fifteen (15) days after the failed test(s) or receipt of the contested decision(s).
3. A copy of the appeal must be sent to all members of the Massachusetts Search Dog Standard Committee.
4. The appeal shall provide sufficient information for the Massachusetts Search Dog Standard Committee to make a decision. Such information may include but is not limited to:
a. Affidavits;
b. Written statements of relevant parties, witnesses, and experts;
c. Complete description of the reason for the appeal; and
d. The suggested remedy.
B. The Massachusetts Search Dog Standard Committee will have a total of sixty (60) calendar days in which to investigate, obtain testimony (if necessary), question the parties involved, obtain outside professional assistance, or take other actions which the Committee deems necessary and appropriate in the circumstances.
C. The decision by the Massachusetts Search Dog Standard Committee will be written and sent to the appellant by certified mail (return receipt requested).
D. The decision of the Massachusetts Search Dog Standard Committee will be final.
IX. Acceptance and Amendment
A. These standards will take effect immediately upon acceptance by majority vote of one representative of each of the user agencies and the SAR canine units which participated in the development of the "Massachusetts Search Dog Standard."
1. Certification of the participating SAR Canine Units will immediately be initiated in accordance with Section VI(A)(6).
2. Dog teams may become certified by either:
i. Completing the Certification Testing process outlined above in Sections (IV) and (V); or
ii. Completing the Grandfathering Provisions set forth in Appendix "A."
B. The Massachusetts Search Dog Standard Committee may recommend amendments to the participating user agencies and the Certified SAR Canine Units as these standards are improved and expanded.
1. The Massachusetts Search Dog Standard Committee will present suggestions for amendment in writing to the representatives of each Certified SAR Canine Unit.
a. Each Certified SAR Canine Unit through its representative will have thirty (30) days during which to comment on proposed amendments.
b. Amendments will be discussed and voted on at a regularly scheduled Massachusetts Search Dog Standard Committee meeting after the comment period has ended.
2. Amendments will be accepted by a two thirds majority vote of the representatives of the Certified SAR Canine Units present.
C. Any member of a Certified SAR Canine Unit may propose amendments by the same process outlined in Section IX Part B.
MASSACHUSETTS
SEARCH DOG STANDARD
STANDARD DEFINITIONS
The definitions listed here are those accepted by Massachusetts Search Dog Standard Committee for use in its accepted standards. These definitions may not reflect the definitions used by other individuals, groups, or agencies.
Air scent dog - A search dog that will detect airborne human scent.
Alert - A behavioral change made by a search dog when it detects human scent.
Article search - Search for any object or article that may contain human scent and which may be above or below ground.
Avalanche Search - Search for human victims of an avalanche.
Bark Alert - After locating the search subject or article, the canine stays in the same location as the search subject or article and barks.
Cadaver search - Search for human remains that are on the surface or buried on land.
Certified - Formally recognized as having completed the Certification Testing process set forth in Sections (IV) and (V) and having submitted the appropriate paperwork and other requirements set forth in Section (II).
Contaminated area - An area containing air or ground scents of persons other than that the victim.
Disaster search - Search for humans in rubble or debris, such as collapsed buildings or debris piles, that are a result of natural or human-caused disasters.
Dog Team - One handler with one dog.
Handler - The person who controls and directs the dog during a search. This person does not have to be the owner or trainer of the dog.
Heavy brush - Ground cover which provides difficult visual as well as physical obstacles to the search team.
ICS - Incident Command System
Indication - The behavior which the dog performs once the subject is found.
Moderate terrain - Terrain having average ease of walking, average visibility, and no extremes of topography.
Probability of Detection (POD) - The percentage of probability that if a subject was actually in the search area that the subject would have been located (detected) by the search effort.
Refind - After locating the search subject or article, the canine returns to the handler and then leads the handler back to the search subject or article.
Rough terrain - Terrain having great extremes of topography, heavy, thick brush and poor visibility resulting in difficult search conditions for both handler and canine.
Scent article - An item belonging to the search subject, preferably clothing, that holds the subject's scent and that has not been contaminated by the scent(s) of other people.
Tracking/trailing dog - A search dog that will follow the ground scent track/trail of a person who has passed through the area in which the dog is searching.
Unit - A group of single SAR resources existing for the purpose of SAR training and operations and demonstrating or providing documentation of the following:
1. Unit organizational structure.
2. Unit standards and the date they were accepted.
3. List of unit members and their status, i.e., operational, training, inactive, etc.
4. Documentation of past training.
5. Provisions for ongoing training.
6. Records of responses to actual searches, if any.
Water Search - Search for humans who are under water, such as a drowning victim.
MASSACHUSETTS
SEARCH DOG STANDARD
APPENDIX "A"
Certification of Teams that have Attained Field Ready Status
Prior
to the Acceptance of the Massachusetts Search Dog Standards
This section applies to teams that have completed at least the 40 Acre Daytime, 40 Acre Night, and the 160 Acre Daytime certification tests prior to March 24, 1999. Before being certified as "Field Ready" under the Massachusetts Search Dog Standards, candidate teams must meet the following conditions:
1. The sponsoring Unit or Team must submit:
1.1 Unit Standards;
1.2 The criteria by which Teams are evaluated;
1.3 The Team 40 Day, 40 Night, and 160 Acre Day Evaluation Record/Forms that include an assessment of the dog and handler according to the criteria specified in the Unit standards, the date each Evaluation was taken, and the outcome of each Evaluation; and
1.4 A list of all Applicant Teams applying for certification under SECTION "A."
2. A panel comprised of one member from each participating Unit will convene for the Review of SECTION A applicants. This panel will:
2.1 Accept applications submitted before the Panel’s first meeting
2.2 Review the Unit standards and Evaluation Criteria to ensure that the minimum requirements for Operational status specified in the Massachusetts Search Dog Standards (V.C.1.a-j) are met by the Unit’s 40 Day, 40 Night, and 160 Acre Day Evaluations;
2.3 Review the Applicant Team's 40 Acre Day, 40 Acre Night, and 160 Day Evaluation Record/Forms to ensure that the Team has adequately demonstrated the minimum requirements for Operational status specified in the Massachusetts Search Dog Standards (V.C.1.a-j);
2.4 Based on the above documentation, the Panel may, by simple majority:
2.4.1 Request the Team retake any or all Evaluations that were failed or that do not meet the minimum requirements specified in the Massachusetts Search Dog Standards (V.C.1.a-j)
2.4.2 Conditionally accept the Team’s application for SECTION "A" 'Field Ready' status upon demonstration of skills found to be deficient (to be specified by Panel members). or
2.4.3 Accept the Team’s application for SECTION A 'Field Ready' status.
3. Once the application for SECTION "A" `'Field Ready' status has been accepted, the Team must pass one of the tests specified below, under the criteria specified in Section V, in the presence of the Evaluation Team specified below.
3.1 One of the following tests will be chosen at random, and the Applicant Team must pass this test prior to being recognized as ‘Field Ready’ under the Massachusetts Search Dog Standards:
3.1.1 40 Acre Day
3.1.2 40 Acre Night
3.2 The Evaluation Team must consist of at least two evaluators including:
3.2.1 One member from another participating Unit, chosen by draw. This evaluator must have successfully completed the 160 Acre Day or 40 Acre Night Unit Evaluation, or be a recognized evaluator for within his/her Unit; and
3.2.2 One member of any participating Unit (chosen by draw, who has met the criteria specified in 3.2.1) or a Massachusetts Police Officer, and/or
3.2.3 No more than one member (who has met the criteria specified in 3.2.1) from the Team’s sponsoring Unit
3.3 Guidelines for scoring the evaluation are specified in Section VI of the Massachusetts Search Dog Standards
3.4 The Evaluation Team may terminate the evaluation at any time. Termination for any reason unrelated to safety will be considered a ‘Fail.’
4. If the criteria specified in 1.1-3 above are met, the Team is granted `Field Ready’ status pending completion or presentation of documentation demonstrating skills required in Section IV of the Massachusetts Search Dog Standards
5. If the test in 1.3 is failed or called off by the Evaluation Team, the Team may be retested once as specified in 1.3, but only after all Teams applying for SECTION "A" Operational status have been tested once.
6. If the retest is failed or called off by the Evaluation Team, the Team must retake all evaluations specified in the minimum requirements for Operational status specified in the Massachusetts Search Dog Standards (V.C.1.a-j) before being granted `Field Ready’ status.
SECTION "B"
Certification of Teams that are in Training During the Time
the Massachusetts Search Dog Standards are Accepted
This section applies to any Teams which have at least one evaluation (excluding the Trail Problem). {NOTE: suggest "yet to pass the 40 Acre Night or 160 Acre Day Evaluation"}, as of March 24, 1999, remaining before completing the requirements for `Field Ready’ status.
1. Any Team that has taken and passed the Trail Problem, the 40 Acre Daytime, the 40 Acre Night, and/or the 160 Acre Daytime Evaluations may not be required to retake all of these evaluations to be considered `Field Ready.’
2. Credit for passing a Trail Problem and 40 Acre Daytime Evaluation conducted by the Unit prior to March 24, 1999 will be given upon passing either the 40 Acre Night or 160 Daytime Evaluation. Likewise, credit for the 40 Acre Night will be given upon passing the 160 Acre Daytime Evaluation and vice versa.
3. For SECTION "B" Operational status, the Team must:
3.1 Schedule an evaluation which is the Team’s final requirement prior to attaining `Field Ready’ status and is either the:
3.1.1 40 Acre Night Evaluation or
3.1.2 160 Acre Day Evaluation
3.2 Perform the skills required in Section V as determined by an Evaluation Team consisting of at least two evaluators, including:
3.2.1 One member of another participating Unit (chosen by draw), and
3.2.2 One member of any participating Unit (chosen by draw) or a Massachusetts Police Officer, and/or
3.2.3 No more than one member from the Team’s sponsoring Unit
3.3 Submit photocopies of the Team 40 Acre Day, 40 Night, and 160 Acre Day Evaluation Record/Forms (as applicable) that include an assessment of the dog and handler according to the criteria specified in the Unit Standards, the date each Evaluation was taken, and the outcome of each Evaluation.
3.4 Demonstrate mastery of any skills not addressed in the Unit standards, as determined by the panel specified in SECTION "A."
3.5 Demonstrate any skills, not addressed during Unit evaluations, as requested by the Evaluation Team based on their survey of the Team’s Evaluation Records/Forms.
4. The Evaluation Team will:
4.1 Score the evaluation according to the guidelines specified in Section VI of the Massachusetts Search Dog Standards
4.2 May terminate the evaluation at any time. Termination for any reason unrelated to safety will be considered a `Fail.’
5. Based on the outcome of the evaluation, the Evaluation Team can:
5.1 Grant `Field Ready’ status for the Applicant Team, providing the criteria specified in 3.1-5 above are met, and the skills required in Section IV of the Massachusetts Search Dog Standards have been met
5.2 Discuss areas of improvement for the Team. The Team may retake the evaluation after all Teams currently awaiting evaluation under SECTION "B" status have been tested once.
5.3 Request that the Team retake the Trail Problem and/or 40 Acre Daytime Evaluation before retaking the current evaluation.
SECTION "C"
Certification of Field Ready Teams from Units Based Outside of
the Commonwealth
of Massachusetts or Units not Accepting the Massachusetts Search Dog Standards
This section applies to any Teams from non-participating Units or Units based outside of Massachusetts. These Teams may become fully operational under the Massachusetts Search Dog Standards as specified in SECTION "A." A committee to review SECTION "C" applicants can be convened by majority vote of representatives from participating teams, but only after the first round of SECTION "A" and SECTION "B" evaluations have been completed, and only if Evaluators as defined in Appendix "B" (Requirements for Certified SAR Teams) are available. This Section does not apply to Teams residing out of state but accepted to membership in
Massachusetts Units prior to March 24, 1999.
MASSACHUSETTS
SEARCH DOG STANDARD
To obtain recognition as a "Certified SAR Canine Unit," the SAR Canine Unit must demonstrate to the Massachusetts Search Dog Standard Committee that it meets the following "SAR Canine Unit Certification Evaluation Criteria." If the Massachusetts Search Dog Standard Committee agrees by majority vote that a particular SAR Canine Unit meets the "SAR Canine Unit Certification Evaluation Criteria" set forth below, the SAR Canine Unit shall be recognized as a "Certified SAR Canine Unit" qualified to implement the MASARD Certification Testing process set forth in Sections (IV) and (V) and to field Certified SAR Canine Teams in response to emergency response events occurring within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts upon request of a user agency having jurisdiction over the incident. Additionally, each "Certified SAR Canine Unit" shall have one (1) vote at any meeting of the "Massachusetts Search Dog Standard Committee" at which a majority of the panel is present.
SECTION "A"
Certification of SAR Canine Units that Participated
in the Development of the Massachusetts Search Dog Standards
This section applies to the SAR Canine Units listed below that participated in the development of the Massachusetts Search Dog Standards (hereinafter referred to as "Participating SAR Canine Units"):
(1) Department of Environmental Management Canine Search Unit (DEM)
(2) Dukes County Search and Rescue, Inc. (DCSAR)
(3) Massachusetts Air-Scenting K9, Inc. (MASK9)
(4) Massachusetts Canine Response Team, Inc. (MACRT)
(5) Rescue Dogs, Inc. (RDI)
(6) Search Dogs Northeast, Inc. (SDNE)
In order to be recognized as a "Certified SAR Canine Unit," each of the Participating SAR Canine Units must demonstrate in writing to the Massachusetts Search Dog Standard Committee, and the Committee must agree by majority vote, that the Participating SAR Canine Unit meets the "SAR Canine Unit Evaluation Criteria – Section "A" as follows:
1. Accept the Massachusetts Search Dog Standards. The Participating SAR Canine Unit must submit Unit Standards that meet, at a minimum, the performance standards and Certification Testing process set forth in the Massachusetts Search Dog Standards. Said Unit’s Standards may exceed the performance standards and Certification Testing process set forth in the Massachusetts Search Dog Standards but the Participating SAR Canine Unit must expressly agree to meet those performance standards and Certification Testing process contained within the Massachusetts Search Dog Standards, at a minimum.
2. Adopt the MASARD Code of Ethics. The Participating SAR Canine Unit must adopt and agree to be bound by the "MASARD Code of Ethics" attached hereto and incorporated by reference.
3. Identification of Unit Personnel. The Participating SAR Canine Unit must identify the Unit member(s) who is assigned to the following positions: (i) "Unit Leader;" (ii) "Unit Canine Trainer and/or Director;" and (iii) "Point-Person for Unit Call-Out."
4. Membership Roster. The Participating SAR Canine Unit must maintain a current membership roster and ensure that any dog team seeking state certification be an active member in good-standing with the Unit.
5. Unit Training. The Participating SAR Canine Unit must submit Unit Standards that require and/or provide for training in the following areas (either via instruction offered by the SAR Canine Unit itself or through participation in outside courses):
a. Map and Compass Training
b. Crime Scene Preservation
c. First Aid/CPR
d. K-9 First Aid
e. Radio Skills
f. Physical Fitness Requirements
g. Equipment Requirements
h. Attendance Requirements6. Training Logs. The Participating SAR Canine Unit must require that: (i) each dog team intending to seek state certification maintain accurate and up-to-date training records on the dog’s training and performance levels; and (ii) each dog achieving state certification maintain accurate and up-to-date training records showing successful participation in a continuing "in-house" training program administered by the Participating SAR Canine Unit.
7. Implementation of the Certification Testing Process. The Participating SAR Canine Unit must implement a Certification Testing process sufficient to meet the certification requirements of the Massachusetts Search Dog Standards including, but not limited to, Sections (IV) and (V) therein; however, the Field Evaluation Team for the first 40-acre Day Testing performed by the Participating SAR Canine Unit must consist of, at least: (i) a Certified Canine Handler from another Participating SAR Canine Unit; and (ii) a Massachusetts State Police Master Canine Trainer.
8. Adequate Record-Keeping System. The Participating SAR Canine Unit must maintain a record-keeping system which:
a. documents attendance by members at regularly-scheduled unit trainings;
b. demonstrates that each handler has completed all of the practical evaluations set forth in Massachusetts Search Dog Standards Section IV (A-H) before that handler begins the Certification Testing process; and
c. documents that the dog team seeking state certification has completed the Certification Testing process set forth in Sections (IV) and (V) (so that a Letter of Recommendation from that dog team’s Certified SAR Canine Unit can be forwarded to Massachusetts Search Dog Standard Committee along with copies of all applicable evaluation forms).
9. Designated Response Area. The Participating SAR Canine Unit will identify its geographic response area within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. For each designated response area, describe the estimated amount of time needed by members of the Participating SAR Canine Unit to respond to a given search incident in that area. For the purposes of this Section "A"(9), it is permissible to identify that the Participating SAR Canine Unit limits its response to one geographic area or that it is capable of responding statewide.
10. Participation in the Massachusetts Search Dog Standard Committee. Upon majority vote by the Massachusetts Search Dog Standard Committee, the Participating SAR Canine Unit shall appoint two (2) "Unit Representatives" who will represent the Certified SAR Canine Unit at all Massachusetts Search Dog Standard Committee Meetings. The "Unit Representatives" agree that one or both Unit Representatives will attend, at a minimum, eighty (80%) percent of all regularly-scheduled Massachusetts Search Dog Standard Committee Meetings each year. If neither Unit Representative is able to attend a regularly-scheduled Massachusetts Search Dog Standard Committee Meeting, the Certified SAR Canine Unit agrees to designate an alternate to attend in their absence.
SECTION "B"
Certification of New SAR Canine Units
This section applies to all SAR Canine Units other than the Participating SAR Canine Units, listed above, which seek admission to the Massachusetts Search and Rescue Dog Standard Committee as a "Certified SAR Canine Unit" (hereinafter referred to as "Petitioning SAR Canine Units"). In order to be recognized as a "Certified SAR Canine Unit," each Petitioning SAR Canine Units must demonstrate in writing to the Massachusetts Search Dog Standard Committee, and the Committee must agree by majority vote, that the Petitioning SAR Canine Unit meets the "SAR Canine Unit Evaluation Criteria – Section "B," set forth below:
1. Written Application. The Petitioning SAR Canine Unit must submit a written request seeking admission to the Massachusetts Search and Rescue Dog Standard Committee as a "Certified SAR Canine Unit."
2. Compliance with SAR Canine Unit Evaluation Criteria, Section "A". The Petitioning SAR Canine Unit must demonstrate in writing to the Massachusetts Search Dog Standard Committee that it meets all of the requirements set forth above in the "SAR Canine Unit Evaluation Criteria," Section "A"(1-6, 8(i)).
3. Viability of the Petitioning SAR Canine Unit as a Massachusetts Resource. The Petitioning SAR Canine Unit must document that:
a. The Petitioning SAR Canine Unit has been in existence and has maintained a presence in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for at least two (2) years prior to seeking admission to the Massachusetts Search and Rescue Dog Standard Committee as a "Certified SAR Canine Unit." For the purposes of this Section "B"(3)(i), it will be sufficient if the Petitioning SAR Canine Unit can document that it has had a principle place of business within the Commonwealth for the past two (2) years or that it has been affiliated for at least two (2) years with an emergency response organization that is based solely within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and that the Petitioning SAR Canine Unit’s designated response area will be entirely within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts;
b. The Petitioning SAR Canine Unit has at least four (4) members each of whom are Massachusetts residents and each of whom are active canine handlers training with the Petitioning SAR Canine Unit on a regular basis in accordance with that Unit’s particular attendance requirements; and
c. The Petitioning SAR Canine Unit trains regularly in different geographic areas within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
4. Response Area. The Petitioning SAR Canine Unit must identify its geographic response area within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and demonstrate that a need for a new SAR Canine Unit exists in the designated response area. In supporting the need for a new SAR Canine Unit in the designated response area, the Petitioning SAR Canine Unit should take into consideration all relevant facts and circumstances including, but not limited to, (i) the type and severity of terrain or environmental features within the designated response area; (ii) the number of potential incidents to which volunteer canine teams are called within the designated response area; and (iii) the availability of other Certified SAR Canine Units capable of responding quickly to the search incident. In the event that response area designated by the Petitioning SAR Canine Unit represents a significant portion of the designated response area of an already recognized Certified SAR Canine Unit, a mutually-agreed arrangement must be worked out between the Certified SAR Canine Unit and the Petitioning SAR Canine Unit before the Petitioning SAR Canine Unit can seek admission to the Massachusetts Search Dog Standard Committee.
5. Participation in the Massachusetts Search Dog Standard Committee. Upon majority vote of the Massachusetts Search Dog Standard Committee that the Petitioning SAR Canine Unit has met the "SAR Canine Unit Evaluation Criteria – Section "B"(1-4), the Petitioning SAR Canine Unit shall appoint two (2) "Unit Representatives," one or both of whom will agree to participate in all regularly-scheduled Massachusetts Search Dog Standard Committee Meetings for a period of one (1) year; however, the Petitioning SAR Canine Unit will have not have voting rights in any Committee meeting for the one (1) year period of time after which voting rights will vest in the Petitioning SAR Canine Unit in the absence of a Committee vote to the contrary. Once voting rights have vested, the "Unit Representatives" agree that one or both will attend, at a minimum, eighty (80%) percent of all regularly-scheduled Massachusetts Search Dog Standard Committee Meetings each year. If neither Unit Representative is able to attend a regularly-scheduled Massachusetts Search Dog Standard Committee Meeting, the Certified SAR Canine Unit agrees to designate an alternate to attend in their absence.
6. Implementation of the Certification Testing Process. During the one (1) year mandatory waiting period described above in Section "B"(5), the Massachusetts Search Dog Standard Committee has the discretion to permit the Petitioning SAR Canine Unit to initiate the Certification Testing process including, but not limited to, the Field Evaluations set forth in Sections (IV) and (V); however, the Field Evaluation Team for all Certification Tests, including the initial Trail Evaluation, must consist of two (2) Certified Canine Handlers from the same or different Certified SAR Canine Units. Additionally, the Massachusetts State Police Master Canine Trainer has the right to participate as a Field Evaluator or Observer at his or her election.
MASSACHUSETTS
Effective September 2, 2000
SEARCH DOG STANDARD
CODE OF ETHICS
I, ____________________, being a member in good-standing with _______________________, which is a Certified SAR Canine Unit belonging to the Massachusetts Search and Rescue Dog Committee, do hereby pledge my support and efforts to the locating of any lost person in the Commonwealth and to those agencies and organizations responsible for searches in Massachusetts.
Toward that end, I pledge that I will:
· Will train to the highest level of standard established by the MASARD Committee and will maintain that standard at all times;
· Will perform to the best of my ability the assignments directed to me and in the manner prescribed;
· Will maintain my physical condition and that of my canine partner to enable me to carry out my assignments in an efficient and professional manner;
· Do hereby accept to work under the concepts of the "Incident Command System" and the responsibilities and restrictions that go along with it;
· Will not respond to any search unless I or my team have been called out by a responsible agency; and
· Will not openly or publicly disagree with any aspect of a search and will only offer positive and constructive advice during official critiques of searches that I have participated in;
· Will remember that a search for a lost or missing person is considered a potential criminal investigation until resolved and that the inadvertent or intentional disclosure of information could adversely impact or jeopardize any resulting criminal prosecution; and
· Will adhere to strict operational security measures when participating in a search and will not divulge information relating to the search to any individual not participating in the search without first clearing the need for, and scope of, such disclosure with the law enforcement agency having jurisdiction over said search.
My signature attached to this document certifies that I will responsibly discharge these obligations.
Signature: _________________________ Date: ______________
MASSACHUSETTS
SEARCH DOG STANDARD
APPENDIX "C"
NOTIFICATION OF CANINE
SEARCH-SPECIFIC CERTIFICATION TEST
Unless notified to the contrary, the Massachusetts State Police will be informed of the date, time and place of each: (i) 40-acre and 160-acre Air Scent Certification Test; (ii) Basic (Level I) Tracking Dog Certification Test; and (iii) Basic (Levels I and II and Advanced) Trailing Dog Certification Test being held by both (i) mail or facsimile; and (ii) email, as more fully set forth below:
(1) BY MAIL or BY FACSIMILE: At least (10) days prior to the date of the Certification Test, either mail or fax a completed Notification Form to Sgt. Neil H. Raymond, Massachusetts State Police Master Canine Trainer, at the address set forth below:
Attention: Sgt. Neil H. Raymond
Massachusetts State Police Academy
340 West Brookfield Road
New Braintree, MA 01531
Telephone: (508) 867 - 1000
FAX: (508) 867 – 1100NOTIFICATION FORM
Name of Certified SAR Canine Unit: _________________________ _____________________________________________________
Type of Search-Specific Test: ______________________________ _____________________________________________________
Date of Search-Specific Test:_______________________________ _____________________________________________________
Time of Search-Specific Test:________________________________ ______________________________________________________
Location of Search-Specific (with directions): ____________________
______________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
Contact Person:___________________________________________ ________________________________________________________
Telephone # of Contact Person:________________________________ ________________________________________________________
(2) CONFIRMATORY EMAIL: At least five (5) days prior to the date of the Certification Test, email Sgt. Neil H. Raymond at << neil.raymond@pol.state.ma.us >> and confirm that the Certification Test will be going forward as scheduled.
MASSACHUSETTS
SEARCH DOG STANDARD
APPENDIX "D"
SUGGESTED MINIMUM EQUIPMENT FOR
A BASIC GROUND SEARCHER
FIELD PACK:
*Water Bottles
*Flashlight (extra batteries)
*Flagging or other Marking Material
*Leatherman-Type Tool
*Small First Aid-Kit
*Compass
*Notepaper/Pencil
*Whistle
*Baseball Cap
*Leather Gloves
*Food (as appropriate)
*Foul-Weather Gear (as appropriate for season and anticipated duration in the field)