Animals

Taiwan Welcomes Four New Search And Rescue Dogs To Join Missions

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By Hank Hsu/Sandy Chi

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Four highly trained search and rescue dogs have officially joined Taiwan's emergency response teams after successfully passing a rigorous certification exam.

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Taiwan Certifies Four New Search and Rescue Dogs 

Bagel, a four-year-old search and rescue dog, has officially been certified in Taiwan, marking a new milestone in the country's disaster response efforts. Bagel is one of four dogs to pass a rigorous certification exam organized by the International Search and Rescue Dog Organization, a test that evaluates their ability to locate individuals buried in rubble within a set timeframe. 

"This is a new milestone," said Bagel’s handler, Ling Kuo-chih. "Our team has a more solid foundation to our training. So when our dogs pass this threshold, it means they have the basic search and rescue ability for any disaster site." 

The examination proved to be particularly challenging, with only about a third of candidates successfully passing. Ling noted the unexpected difficulty of the test and emphasized the importance of thorough and consistent training. He also highlighted the step-by-step approach needed to train search and rescue dogs. "You need to plan out each small step. Even if it is a very small step today, let [the dog] complete it quickly and get a quick reward. That little step will help in the official exams." 

With these four new certifications, Taiwan now has a total of 56 mission-ready search and rescue dogs. These highly trained animals play a crucial role in disaster relief efforts, particularly in a country prone to earthquakes and typhoons. 

"Search and rescue dogs are important assets, so Taiwan must have them," said Chou Tsung-chi of the Taiwan Detection Dog Organization. "Taiwan has several earthquakes per year and one major earthquake every five years. Other countries may only have one every few decades." 

Taiwan first introduced search and rescue dogs in 1999, following a devastating magnitude 7.3 earthquake that killed over 2,000 people and left many trapped under rubble. Daniel Sedlak, a judge at the certification exam and a member of the International Search and Rescue Dog Organization, recalled how Taiwan had no trained rescue dogs when he first came to the country 25 years ago. 

"I remember my first time to Taiwan,” Sedlak said, “it was 1999. I was here with my Czech team. I have been here as a dog handler helping your people after a big earthquake and you didn't have dogs. And if we compare today, you did a big step. A really big step." 

In disaster relief, effective teamwork is essential to success. Chou of the Taiwan Detection Dog Organization stressed the importance of integrating trained rescue dogs with experienced frontline responders. "They are frontline rescuers. They have a thorough understanding of disaster sites, and when they add search and rescue dogs to their team, they can effectively apply these skills at the disaster scene," he said. "Their expertise, combined with the skills of the dogs, enables them to accomplish team tasks successfully." 

Taiwan has already trained seven of Asia’s nine highest-certified search and rescue dogs, demonstrating the country’s commitment to disaster preparedness. With a mix of experienced veterans and new recruits, Taiwan’s search and rescue teams—along with their four-legged heroes—will continue to train, work, and respond to emergencies whenever disaster strikes.