Search and Rescue Dogs come under the operational control of several different organisations. Primarily Search Dogs, as do all Mountain Rescue services, work for the Police. In practice handlers and dogs respond to requests from Police forces across the UK to assist in a wide variety of duties.

Search Dogs are employed in a wide range of incidents, from lost walkers and climbers, to missing children and possible victims of crime.  When operating under the control of a Mountain Rescue search co-ordinator, the handler and dog will follow instructions and integrate their abilities with that of other searchers.  In more and more incidents the handlers and dogs are responding to situations which do not involve other Mountain Rescue elements. In particular when searching with police officers for possible crime victims, in these circumstances the dog handler will rely strongly on their own skills and resources to fulfil the demands of the work. 

In December 1988 SARDA England handlers, with other handlers from our sister association were call to Lockerbie air disaster.  Over the first eight days and nights of the search forty five dogs were used. A horrific incident, the likes of which we pray we will not have to attend again.   [link]