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What
is the difference between a search dog, cadaver dog, decomp
dog and a forensic evidence dog?
A "search dog" has little or no training in finding deceased
humans. The term "cadaver dog" came about after search
and rescue dogs started to be trained to look for expired
lost persons and suicides. The term "decomposition dog"
was started by the NecroSearch group. They felt it better
describes how dogs will indicate decomp human scent which
includes blood, feces, urine or other material with human
scent on it. We have started to refer to our dogs as forensic
evidence dogs because they are being trained as specialist.
They are not only finding human remains but trace evidence
and residual scent |
What are the qualities and skills of a Forensic Evidence
Dog?
The forensic dog is trained to alert on residual scent
along with other faint scent sources like dried blood.
The dog is taught not to disturb the crime scene by digging
or retrieving evidence. An important skill the dog is
taught is how to search a home or vehicle without causing
harm to property. The dog is taught to discriminate between
live human scent and cadaver scent, and animal bones and
human bones. |
My dog is trained for search and rescue, can I also teach
him to do forensic evidence work?
Yes! Dogs are capable of understanding several disciplines
at the same time. Potential problems are: dogs trained
in disaster must be very clear and have a different alert
for live and dead, occasionally dogs trained in both live
and dead scent will alert and we are unable to determine
which of the two they have alerted on. As the need for
forensic evidence dogs increases we see more handlers
who are training specialty dogs. They feel that a dog
that has been imprinted on one type of scent is more accurate
that a cross trained dog. |
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Is evidence searching the same as forensic evidence?
Terminology
gets confusing, people use different words to mean the
same thing or the same word to mean different things.
We define evidence searching as an article with live
human scent on it. Forensic evidence searching can be
cadaver, decomposing human scent, or any body fluids
from a deceased person. These scents can be on an article,
the actual body, in the ground or residual. The main
point is a forensic evidence dog is never looking for
live scent. |
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When would I use a search dog and when do I need a forensic
evidence dog?
Obviously
if you have an assumed live person you need search dogs.
Searches for suicides or expected recently deceased
persons should also use search dogs. Its a very good
idea to use search dogs that have been imprinted on
cadaver scent. Dogs that have never had any training
on cadaver scent will sometimes act strange or will
not know how to communicate their find. The handler
does not see the " normal" behavior and may not recognize
what the dog has found. Some dogs who have no training
will avoid the deceased person. We are learning that
at the moment of death changes in the body are occurring.
Factors like heat and the condition of the body will
also make a big difference in the decomposition. The
training of a forensic evidence dog comes into play
for cases like: buried bodies, disarticulation, old
cases, bone searches, blood evidence, residual scents,
crime scenes, building searches, and vehicle searches.
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What is the Institute for Canine Forensics?
ICF
is a nonprofit organization working to promote professionalism
in the new field of canine forensics. Research projects
in many facets of this field are being conducted to
provide a basis for determining canine's capabilities.
The Institute will continue to add projects and publish
the results |
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Where is the Institute and Who are the founders?
ICF
is located in the San Francisco Peninsula in California,
USA. It was founded by two canine handlers who wanted
to take cadaver searching to a higher degree of expertise
on an International level. They are: Adela Morris -
With twelve years of search and rescue experience, she
has specialized in cadaver work for much of that time
and now does forensic evidence work exclusively. She
teaches, works on establishing state standards for canine
teams, and sets up many research projects. Adela currently
handles two canines. Rita Martinez - Has made forensic
evidence work her specialty. She is the office manager,
teaches, and is custodian of the Web site. Rita is developing
the foundation protocol for the unique methods required
in forensic search administration. She currently handles
two canines. |
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