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.
Doing yoga with a dog, or doga in other words (the combination of “dog” and “yoga”), has become popular in the United States of America, but it has not become so popular in the Czech Republic yet. What is it about and what benefits does this sport have...
Earlier, this heart disease was attributed only to certain pure-blood breeds. Nowadays, it can even occur in cross-breeds. Another disease which reminds us of how important regular preventive check-ups at the vet are.
Days are getting colder and it is time again to prepare our furry friends who live outdoors for winter. All cats (whether they live outdoors or only go outside occasionally) need our greater attention in this season.
A Somali cat is a long-haired version of Abyssinian cat, one of the oldest cat breeds in the world. But it does not have an interesting or long history itself. Even though it is named after an African country, first Somali cats were born in the United...
Until recently, Cairn terriers were the most popular terriers in Great Britain (until they were overtaken by Westies). It comes from Scottish island Skye and it used to hunt foxes and otters here already in the times of Mary, Queen of Scots. That’s...
A team of Swedish athletes one of whom is Mikael Lindord regularly attends one of the most difficult races in the world to challenge other teams – the Adventure Racing World Championship. When Mikael and his friends stopped in the middle of an...
Each dog is an individual and has different needs. When it comes to diet, it depends on its health condition or physically demanding activities. However, we can generalize these needs to a certain degree according to a breed, age and mainly the size of...
Adopting a dog senior might save his life. They also need stable home and love which unfortunately can never be fully provided in the shelter. Nevertheless, most people who are considering adoption as an option automatically look for a puppy or at...
The International Rabbit Day is celebrated on the fourth Saturday or Sunday in September. This year, it was 22 September. This annual celebration of a cute mammal with long ears, short tail and a velvet coat is not only meant for the million of rabbits...
Do you also follow the recent trend which encourages us to come back to our roots and mind our planet more? I am personally very happy about that. More and more households live according to zero-waste and non-toxic principles and we don’t forget about...
Cats enjoying themselves in a doll house are a hit on Iceland. Their creators probably didn’t expect so much fame and first of all, they didn’t create the whole project for money, fame and for a short-time amusement. There is a much more noble purpose...
Your furry friend might get poisoned in a minute, only a few seconds of carelessness or a slow reaction is enough, especially if your dog is similar to mine and “eats everything he finds on the way”. Fortunately, my dog hasn’t been poisoned yet but I’m...