On May 28, 2023, three Ventura County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue (SAR) K9's and their handlers were certified for both Level 2 and Level 3 mantrailing after they successfully passed a rigorous two-day testing program.
SAR K9’s are used to locate lost or missing persons using an individual’s scent from skin rafts (dead or dying cells) that naturally shed from the body. Before the search begins, the handler will provide the K9 with an article, usually a piece of clothing, that the person has touched. The K9 will then follow the scent trail aiming to locate that person.
SAR K9’s “Pistol”, “Velvet”, “Mira” and their respective handlers have been training for the last year to prepare for the testing. The K9’s will now be used to work with local Law Enforcement and SAR teams to help locate missing or lost persons in Ventura County both in urban and wilderness areas.
The Ventura County Sheriff's Office SAR K9 team is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that consists of 4 handlers and their K9's. All Ventura County SAR K9 team members are volunteers. Nevertheless, every handler and their K9 are dedicated to providing a consistent and professional response to the needs of Ventura County residents and outlying communities. For more information on VCSAR K9, please visit their website at www.vcsarK9.org
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