Search and rescue dog handlers joined forces with modern technologies Introducing the Pátrač application

The events of recent weeks have reaffirmed the importance of cynologists in rescue teams. The rescuers' four-legged partners help search not only in rubble after natural disasters but also track missing or injured persons in inaccessible terrain. Now with the new Pátrač application.  

The number of interventions varies every year but cynology teams are an integral part of the Czech security system. Only the Czech Mountain Rescue has twenty-three handlers with their dogs. And it's not only them who help the Integrated Rescue System to search for lost children, disorientated persons or those with suicidal intentions.

At times like those, success depends on speed. Rescue cynology, therefore, joined forces with modern technologies and the pilot version of the Pátrač application now sees the light of the day. It is supposed to help search and rescue cynologists with the rescue by having their search area divided into sectors based on the input information and experience of the participating cynologists,  as well as the physical condition of the animal. There are no wasted overlaps in open areas, which increases the effectiveness of the whole rescue.

In action, a search and rescue dog can work for several hours, usually around three, four hours. "It depends on many factors. Whether the dog has had any load that day and what sort. Whether he's rested and when he last had something to eat. There are situations when cynologists are asked for help at times when the animal isn't able to provide maximum performance," explains Ondřej Vank, mountain rescuer and the first Czech Mountain Rescue cynologist from Ore Mountains.

He thinks that the application enables the deployment and maximum use of all available dog search forces. Thanks to this project, a dog that's recovering from a rescue action is allocated a smaller sector. "Without smart technology, which analyses sectors according to the difficulty of the terrain, records and processes data including searched areas, their safety/risks, etc., it wouldn't be possible to plan the use of search and rescue dogs in real life so effectively," adds the handler Vank.

Rescuers and members of cynology teams also help with searching for pets in inaccessible terrain. You can use the Záchranka application to call them. However, do inform the operator that you do not need help for yourself but for your animal friend.

Photocredit: Ondřej Vank 

Related articles

How to Take Care of a Pack of Drafting Dogs

Sometimes, one dog is not enough and it is better to have a whole pack. Especially if you breed drafting (or also pulling) dogs. Of course, the more dogs you have, the more care and issues it means, but it also means there’s much more joy for the...

Why is There a Variety of Breeds?

The modern world is not only rich in material things but also in the number of dog breeds. There are quite a lot of them, Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) recognizes 360 different breeds. And they are not only different from each other when...

How to Start with Dogdancing

You might be interested in this dog sport but you have many questions before you can decide to start with it. Will my buddy enjoy it? Do I have sufficient physical abilities? When should we start, isn’t it too soon or too late? This article and advice...

3 Ways to Keep Cat’s Teeth Healthy and Clean

A healthy mouth is a very important part of the complex vitality of a cat and we shouldn’t neglect taking care of it. There are many oral diseases our furry friends can suffer from. What can you do to keep your cat’s teeth clean?

What to Do When a Viper Bites a Dog

Snakes and scorpions are said to get out on Saint George’s Day. It has been a while since then, so it’s no surprise that we can see a lizard or a snake when on a walk somewhere or in our gardens. They already left their underground shelters designed...

Bikejöring – A Different Dog Sledding

Bikejöring doesn’t mean that a dog simply runs next to a bike. The dog pulls the bike when doing this sport, it is similar to dog sledding. A famous Slovak musher, Marcel Dučák, will tell us what equipment you need for it, what dogs it is good for,...