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

Are barking robots the future of pets?

The trend of pets has been a matter of the past 150 years. But what will the next 150 years look like? With the evolution of our society and its values, circuses and zoos are on the radar, and the number of people who do not eat meat, and even vegans,...

Cat birth from start to finish

Do you have a pregnant cat at home? Is this stage slowly coming to an end and you are starting to panic about the birth? Let me take you through it from the beginning to the end. Let's take a look at when it is necessary to intervene, when the help...

All about cat pregnancy

July is the time to prepare for autumn kittens. It's good to remind ourselves what cat pregnancy entails, when and how to prevent it and why.

Dogs on water

Outside temperatures suggest that the boater season is just behind the corner. Many people take their family and children on a water adventure. Some boaters even take their four-legged friends along. What can you do to make sure your trip goes...

Nutrient requirements for dogs

The nutrient requirements of each dog varies depending on its age, physical condition, lifestyle and size. There are many aspects, and you need to take them all into account when choosing your food.

Cat cold

Cats can take a cold a lot harder than we do. For them it's a relatively serious and very contagious viral disease. A cat cold is a combination of diseases, whose symptoms include a cold.

Traveling with a guinea pig

Although traveling is fun, it can also be stressful. We have to make sure we don't forget anything and that everything goes according to plan. But what if you decide to travel with your little friend, a guinea pig? Let's take a look at what you...

Differences between Cat and Dog Food

The fact that there are different cans and dry food for dogs and cats is not a marketing stunt. Both beasts have their specific nutrition needs which vary in certain aspects and if you give them the wrong food, they will start suffering quite soon.