Dogs that will work fire scenes are trained to detect burnt flesh - and can distinguish human remains from those of pets and other animals.
Just as teaching hospitals to use cadavers to teach medical students, Cablk said, trainers use human flesh and blood to train dogs.
Some countries don't allow human remains in such training, and in those places dogs are taught using animal remains, making rescues more difficult.
Cadaver dogs are trained to associate the scent of human remains with a reward, typically a chew toy, Cablk said.
"That's the dog's paycheck," Cablk said.
Persons:
Dominick Del Vecchio, Mary Cablk, Cablk, Jeremy Greenberg, Greenberg, Brad Brooks, Donna Bryson, Stephen Coates
Organizations:
FEMA, Rescue, Task Force, Nevada Task Force, REUTERS, Acquire, Desert Research Institute, Federal Emergency Management, Thomson
Locations:
Nevada, Maui, Lahaina , Hawaii, U.S, California, , California, Longmont , Colorado