What We Do

Alpha K9 Search and Recovery is a search and recovery team dedicated to assisting law enforcement in the search for missing persons. Our handlers are dedicated volunteers with extensive knowledge of search and recovery protocols. They work tirelessly to ensure that every operation is conducted effectively, ethically and with the utmost sensitivity to those affected.

All our members are trained in a minimum standard of Wilderness First Aid and CPR.  However, many of our members are Paramedics, Emergency Medical Technician’s (EMT), Nurses and Police Officers (active and retired) ready to provide medical assistance to the lost, if needed.

Our K9’s are trained to adapt to various scenarios including wilderness and urban environments. We have specialized K9’s that are trained to tackle diverse environments and situations.

 
Our K9 resources include:

Area Search or Air Scent
Air scent dogs are trained to detect human scent particles that are carried by the wind. These dogs don’t follow a specific trail but instead work with their noses to locate the general direction of a person’s scent. Air scent dogs are often utilized in wilderness search scenarios or situations where no discernible trail exists. Their training focuses on working off-leash and covering large areas quickly. These dogs do not need a "last known point" or a scent article. They will seek any human in their assigned search area.  

Trailing - Scent Specific
Trailing dogs specialize in following a specific human scent trail left behind by a person’s footsteps or belongings over various terrains from a person’s last known point. These dogs need a scent article like clothing or an object belonging to the missing person, then they follow the trail until it leads them to the missing person. These dogs work on a long lead with the handler right behind and are best utilized early in the search.

Human Remains Detection - Cadaver
Human remains detection (HRD) dogs, are trained to locate deceased individuals. They can identify the scent of human decomposition, even in challenging environments. HRD dogs are invaluable as a resource when it is believed the missing is no longer alive. Their sensitivity to minute traces of decomposition enables them to locate the person.

Human Remains Detection on Water
Water search dogs are specialized in locating human scent in water environments (ponds, lakes, rivers). Seated in a boat or onshore, these dogs can detect scent particles through water currents and identify the approximate location of submerged individuals. This type of training is particularly demanding, as it requires a combination of air scent and cadaver detection skills. Water search dogs play a key role in recovery operations for drowning victims or in floods.

 

Other services...
We also offer safety education programs at community events and to groups. These include:

• Hug a Tree Program: teaching children and adults things they should do in the event they would become lost.

• Whistles for Survival: Teaching children and adults the benefits of carrying a whistle when hiking/camping.

• General education on what we do as a search and recovery team.

We are not involved in the apprehension or tracking of suspected criminals.
We do not search for lost/missing pets.