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The Source © 2001-1998 by Ed Presnall and Christy Bergeon All Rights Reserved As Published in Dog Days I leaned back into the seat, lightly scratched Ariel's head and thought about how we had decided to make this trip. In October, Ariel became only the 8th and youngest dog to earn the Variable Surface Tracker title. Shortly thereafter, I had met Susan Martinez, the founder of Greater Houston Search Dogs and listened to her concept of a new and highly trained search team for the greater Houston area. I knew Ariel was a very special dog and along with continuing our training for other AKC titles, we embarked on a new endeavor; volunteering our time and effort to assist in search and rescue. Behind us a growing murmur could be heard. Soon the questions started. Why were the dogs in the cabin? Could we pet them? What type of work were they trained for? And a hundred others. I had been told to be prepared, but it was almost comical at times as Susan and I answered questions and convinced the other passengers that the 70 pound German Shepherd, and the 110 pound Akita, curled up at our feet, would not be a problem on the flight. The culmination of several months work together was this flight to a week long basic cadaver search seminar taught by the renowned trainer, Andy Rebmann. The site was scheduled to be several hundred acres of farmland outside of Louisville, KY. Attending was a small class of six experienced search dogs and their trainers ... and Ariel and I. With the most AKC titles of any of the teams and the least amount of experience or knowledge of cadaver search work, our challenge would be to convince the instructor and participants that a tracking dog can assist in search and rescue. As we stepped off of the plane, and into a snowstorm, we were informed that the location had been moved closer to town due to the intense snowfall and blowing drifts. Relocated to a county park, our training started with the introduction of cadaver scent and developing a commitment to locate the source. Once identified, Ariel was taught to give an easily identifiable indication so that I may recognize that she has located the source. Ariel's indication of a find is an "active alert", where she will scratch at the presence of the scent source. As we progressed through the week we were given more difficult challenges with the source being hidden above ground, hung from trees or buried. Each scenario became more realistic as we moved to larger and larger search areas. As the dogs mastered each challenge on land, Andy introduced the teams to water searches. Although the principal of the search is the same, I had to learn to interpret Ariel's alert on a source in the water while I stood on the shore and watched. Much of the snow had melted, however the water in the river was icy cold. When it was our turn, Ariel searched the shoreline and jumped into the flowing water. She stood on several rocks, giving her scratch alert, and thrust her head under the water to grasp the source. I stood there proud and smiling and as she returned to the shore I hugged her. The last day of the seminar dawned clear and cold. We were to be tested to establish minimum standards of proficiency and reliability. As a team, we had to demonstrate our expertise in the search techniques used to locate bodies or parts of bodies either above, on or below the surface. The search area was one to two acres in size with moderate vegetation. The scent source is placed in the testing site a minimum of twelve hours prior to testing. It can be either above ground, on the surface or buried no deeper than 12 inches below soil surface. Each team was allowed a maximum of one hour to conduct the search. Our order of testing was determined by a draw. I drew the fifth position. The wait time passed very quickly, all the dogs were doing a wonderful job and passing, including Susan and her Akita, Sachi. Ariel and I ran down to the start. Andy gave us our boundaries of the search area and I quickly described my search plan. I would have Ariel first work the brush area on the two sides that made up the boundaries. Then with that long and sweeping gate, German Shepherds are blessed with, we would grid the center. I started Ariel working into the wind. After traveling a few yards, she immediately gave me the indication that she had found something, however she did not alert to me that this was the spot. I decided to let her work. After what seemed like a lifetime, but reality was only 20 minutes, Ariel returned to the original spot. This time Ariel looked at me, came back to tell me this was the spot and pawed the ground as her alert indication. There, buried under ground, and covered with an old log, was the source. As we returned to Andy, he had a big grin on his face. The other teams crowded around to congratulate us on our performance. For our efforts, we received a certificate of training and a diploma for demonstrating our proficiency in cadaver search. On the flight home, I was proud that Ariel, my special dog, had once again given her all to prove her ability. I know she will utilize all her skills in our next endeavor whether in obedience, in animal assisted therapy, on a tracking field or when we are called to assist on a search. Ariel was the youngest dog to ever earn the Variable Surface Tracker (VST) title. She and Christy continue to work in Search and Rescue and AKC Tracking. Cadaver Searches During the process of body decomposition after death, the body slowly reduces to base elements. Among the products of decomposition are methane and other gases and amino acids and their derivatives. If a body is in the active state of putrefaction, the dog will detect it from a distance, depending on wind, weather and terrain conditions. Initial alerts on above ground victims have been documented from a distance of one-quarter mile. The base chemicals created by the decomposition of a buried body remain in the soil and can be detected at the surface. As the body reaches the skeletal stage, the chemicals may be carried some distance by ground water. Since soil and terrain conditions vary widely, the alert may not be exactly at the grave, buy may occur down slope where the scent is available. The scent will remain in the environment for years. In a homicide case, remains have been successfully located twenty-five years after burial. Numerous finds of criminal victims buried in excess of ten years have been recorded. Andy Rebmann Andy Rebmann has been involved in search work and K-9 training since 1972. He is a retired trainer for the Connecticut State Police. During his career, he trained K-9 teams for patrol, narcotics, explosive, arson, wilderness, water and cadaver work. He developed the State Police training program for cadaver search dogs. He is the founder and vice president of King County Search Dogs in Washington, a multi-tasked K-9 search unit that supports King County Police Special Operations for missing person searches. 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