As Maui officials continue searching through the wreckage for the many who are still missing after wildfires tore through the island, they have a new tool at hand: human remains detection dogs, often called cadaver dogs.
Human remains detection dogs are one of several kinds of working dogs trained to detect scents, like bomb or drug detection dogs.
Search dogs are often dogs with a working heritage, like border collies or German shepherds.
Lynne Engelbert, a human remains detection dog handler and teacher, told CNN the job requires a specific canine personality.
Lisa Briggs, a forensic criminologist who specializes in the use of human remains detection dogs, told CNN not all human remains detection dogs have the same skills – and the dogs in Maui would need to be imprinted specifically on burnt remains in order to search effectively.
Persons:
Hurricane Dora, John Pelletier, “, Jason Purgason, Lynne Engelbert, that’s, ”, Purgason, it’s, Lisa Briggs, –, ” Briggs, Mary Cablk, ” Cablk, “ There’s, Briggs, ” Purgason, Hurricane Katrina, Engelbert, “ They’re
Organizations:
CNN, National Fire Protection Association, Officials, Federal Emergency Management, Maui Police, Highland Canine, Desert Research Institute, Hurricane, “
Locations:
Maui, Hurricane