Hero on four paws: Police dog Arya finds missing 85-year-old woman!

Hero on four paws: Police dog Arya finds missing 85-year-old woman!

An 85-year-old went missing in the Lewenberg district of Schwerin on Wednesday morning and the police immediately began the search. The emergency services, including the DRK drone squadron and a tracking dog, began an intensive search for the senior citizen as early as 1:15 a.m. The situation was particularly urgent due to the health problems of the missing people, which meant acute danger. The emergency services tried to provide efficient help because every minute counted.

At 3:50 a.m. the tracking dog “Arya” came into action. The dog's specialization in mantrailing, a method that uses the smell of personal items to search for missing people, quickly took effect. After only about 10 minutes, “Arya” found the missing woman near where she was last seen. Thanks to this rapid success, the 85-year-old was immediately taken to hospital for further medical examination. The successful operation shows how valuable such dogs are in critical situations where every second counts.

Tracking dogs in action

The use of human search dogs, especially mantrailers, has proven to be extremely effective in recent years. These specially trained dogs can often provide clues to the possible location of missing people by following scent trails. Interestingly, dogs are best at tracing fresh tracks, while old tracks are increasingly difficult to detect, highlighting the importance of timing. The Federal Association of Rescue Dogs also notes that the success rate for mantrailing is between 26% and 34% - a number that speaks in favor of the use of such dogs.

However, as canine cognition expert Juliane Bräuer notes, it's important to avoid unrealistic expectations about these animals' abilities. Many questions remain about the dogs' accurate perception when they are used for tracking purposes. In Saxony, the use of mantrailing is seen as essential, as professional helpers and their dogs can track traces up to 24 hours after the disappearance.

Searching with dogs in comparison

However, the example of the desperate search for a missing girl in Stendal shows that the use of dogs does not always bring the desired result. In this case, the private dog handler Andrea von Buddenbrock traveled with her animals over a distance of 800 kilometers without any new clues. Despite the significant cost of the operation, the case remained unsolved, highlighting how challenging the search for missing people can be.

In times when not only special planning but also financial resources are often lacking, the effective use of existing resources is even more important. The search histories show that innovation and further development in this area are urgently needed in order to increase the success of such operations and to be even more helpful for those affected.

Today proves once again: In critical situations, highly trained dogs like “Arya” can be crucial helpers. Their efforts not only benefit the affected families, but also show the enormous potential that lies in the connection between humans and animals.

For further information on the subject of people search dogs and their use, visit the pages of Northern Courier, daily news and MDR.