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Handlers and dogs are responding tonight to a callout in the southern region.

A separate callout happened earlier this evening but was stood down shortly after when the missing person was found safe and well.

#searchandrescue #searchdog

** CALLOUT 33 **

On Tuesday, SARDA Ireland were tasked by South Eastern Mountain Rescue Association to assist with a walker who had become disoriented in mist and cloud while descending from Galtee Mor.

Dog teams Éadaoin and Murphy and Mick and Ziggy responded to the callout and joined SEMRA search parties. The missing walker was located by SEMRA and escorted down the hill shortly before 7pm.

When going hillwalking, always remember to have your phone charged, and have sufficient gear (headtorch, map, compass, warm clothing etc.) and extra food, should conditions change or you require assistance from mountain rescue. MR teams respond as speedily as possible, but it may still take time for MR to reach you on the hill. 🐾🏃🏻🏕⛰

**Callout 32**

Last night, Search Dog Ziggy was called out with his Mountain Rescue Team, South Eastern Mountain Rescue Association, to the Comeragh Mountains for 2 hillwalkers who got caught out in the dark. The SEMRA callout officer was able to establish a location for the pair, high in the mountains, using PhoneFind.
The dog team and 3 SEMRA members made their way to the location where the pair were safe and well and then helped them down the route.
2 other search parties from SEMRA were out in support and Search Dog Lyla was stood down at the RV.
Everybody was off the mountains by 11.30pm.

We at SARDA Ireland are remembering our friend and colleague Caitríona Lucas today.

Four years ago, Caitríona responded to a callout with her fellow Coast Guard volunteers to assist in a search off the Co. Clare coast. During this operation, Caitríona tragically lost her life.

Caitríona was also a member of SARDA Ireland, where alongside her dog Zac, she dedicated so much time to not just one rescue organisation, but two. Together, they were a qualified dog team for 7 years and responded to many SARDA callouts.

Go Maridís Beo ❤️

**Callout 31""

Last night, Search Dog Ziggy was out with his Mountain Rescue Team South Eastern Mountain Rescue Association on a search for 2 hillwalkers that had become disorientated in the Comeragh Mountains due to poor visbility. The pair were located safe and well by a SEMRA search party and escorted off the mountains. Search dogs Murphy and Ella were stood down en-route.

Good boy Ziggy! 🏆

Did you know Ziggy loves sausages? Perhaps his handler might give Ziggy a piece of sausage for every like this post gets! 🐾

**CALLOUT 30**

SARDA Ireland were tasked this morning at 01:58 by the Irish Coast Guard to assist with reports of a missing teenager, who has been missing for a number of hours in the Ballinskellig area of Co. Kerry.

Michael Grant and Ziggy responded and departed on a long journey to the area at around 2am. He was stood down on route in the early hours when the missing teenager was located. A number of locals where also assisting in the search.

Units in attendance
Iveragh Coast Guard
An Garda Síochána
Ballinskelligs Inshore Rescue
Rescue 115

*Callout 27 and 28*

SARDA Ireland had a busy day yesterday.

Yesterday morning we were tasked to search for a high risk missing person in Co. Limerick. Two of our search dog teams were en route when the missing person was found safe and well.

Late last night, we were tasked again by An Garda Síochána to a missing persons incident in the Waterford area where 2 children had been reported missing. 2 of our dog teams responded to the callout, and just as the first team arrived on scene, the 2 missing children were found safe and well by the AGS.

Other agencies involved in last night’s search:
South Eastern Mountain Rescue Association
Bonmahon Coast Guard

It is common to be stood down en route to missing person search as the missing person is found quickly. This is the best possible news when responding to a search as the sooner a person is found, the higher the probability that they are found safe and well as they have not been exposed to the elements for long.

A successful outcome in both cases.

Well done to Trainee Search Dog Croía who passed her obedience test last week with flying colours! 🏆🐾

Each of our dogs must pass an obedience test and a stock test to become an official SARDA Green Tag (training) dog. Croía and her handler Niall Devery are one step closer to earning that tag, and we are sure that she will do excellent in her Stock Test also.

Isn't she a good girl?! 🙌

*𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝟮𝟲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗗𝗼𝗴 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗱*

SARDA Ireland were tasked at 01.05am this morning to assist in the search for a missing 77 year old man in the Glanmire area.

Three of our search dog teams responded to the callout, Louise and Lyla were first on scene and began searching from the point last seen (PLS). Following this Éadaoin and Murph, and Gerry and Fia arrived and began a hasty search along paths, around buildings and other key features in the search area, while Adrian set up base and managed the search/communications throughout the search.

The search area had a large amount of woodland and farmland with crop fields, which can be hard to search using human searchers during daylight, and even more complex during the night. However, a search dog is very useful in these terrains. With their powerful noses, they are able to detect human scent from far away, and most importantly, identify which direction the missing person is located.

Whilst searching along a track road at approximately 03.30am, search dog Murphy detected human scent coming from the adjoining crop field and took off into the area, where she found the missing person. Murphy then lead Eadaoin to the missing person. At this point Éadaoin took over and provided medical assistance and along with members of Cork City Missing Persons Search and Recovery, assisted the gentleman out of the area.

The gentleman was assessed by a doctor and although he was cold and hungry, he was thankfully otherwise uninjured.

𝙎𝘼𝙍𝘿𝘼 𝙄𝙧𝙚𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙞𝙨 𝙖 𝙫𝙤𝙡𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙮 𝙤𝙧𝙜𝙖𝙣𝙞𝙨𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙛𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙙 𝙗𝙮 𝙙𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙪𝙗𝙡𝙞𝙘 𝙖𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙢𝙢𝙚𝙨. 𝙄𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙪𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙤𝙧𝙜𝙖𝙣𝙞𝙨𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙥 𝙪𝙨 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙥𝙤𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙘𝙧𝙤𝙨𝙨 𝙄𝙧𝙚𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙙, 𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙚 𝙙𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙠 𝙗𝙚𝙡𝙤𝙬.

**CALLOUT 24**

SARDA Ireland was tasked to a missing person callout in Waterford. Search dog teams Mick and Ziggy, Gerry and Fia and Éadaoin and Murph responded. The missing person was thankfully found safe and well.

After the teams were stood down, the dogs decided to have a socially distant debriefing session. They have had a busy weekend of it and I’m sure they are looking forward to getting home to their beds!

Also in attendance:
Warerford Fire Service
Gardaí Dog Unit

**CALLOUT 23**

SARDA was tasked yesterday by An Garda Síochána to search for a missing child on a Wexford beach. As dog teams were responding we were stood down when the child was thankfully found safe and well. Rescue 117 also responded to this callout.

Many children are reported missing in Ireland every day and are subsequently found safe and well. If your child goes missing, do not hesitate to get in contact with the Gardaí as soon as possible.

Lyla and Louise are an amazing search dog team! This photo was taken today, on Lyla’s 10th birthday!

Lyla as a pup! Can you believe how small she is!

**CALLOUT 22**

Dog team stood down following callout in Newport, Co. Tipperary. The missing girl has been located safe and well.

Search Dog Murphy with Rescue 117 in the background

Search Dog Murphy searching during the night.

SARDA Ireland would like to offer our condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Detective Garda Colm Horkan, who tragically lost his life in the line of duty last night.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.

**CALLOUT 20**

SARDA Ireland were tasked by South Eastern Mountain Rescue Association to assist with a missing person search in the Slieve Bloom Mountains yesterday. Thankfully the missing person was spotted by a heli and walked out of the area by SEMRA before our dogs were deployed.

Other agencies Involved:
An Garda Síochána
National Ambulance Service (NAS)
Offaly Fire & Rescue Service
Air Corps 112
Irish Community Rapid Response

**CALLOUT 18**

SARDA Ireland were tasked to assist An Garda Síochána with a missing person search in Nenagh, Co. Tipperary earlier today. Thankfully the missing person was found safe and well whilst two of our dog teams were en-route.

Other agencies Involved:
Killaloe Coast Guard Unit
Tipp S & R GROUP /NOSU
Limerick Land Search Team

Third callout of the week. Details to follow.

A second callout for SARDA Ireland this week. Details to follow.

** CALLOUT 15 **

Search dogs Ella and Ziggy were called out by An Garda Síochána for a missing person search in the Carlow / Kilkenny area yesterday afternoon. Search dogs Murphy and Lyla were on standby to assist if needed.

The missing person was recovered by a local farmer that evening.

Other agencies involved:
Garda Dive Unit
Civil Defence Ireland
Rescue 117

Our condolences to the person's family and friends. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam.

Our dogs have a busy day lined up... 🐕

Which SARDA dog are you today? 😂

Let us know in the comments and tag your friends to see how they are doing 🤗

Stay home, stay safe 🐕

Say hello to Fred. 😍 Fred is not a SARDA dog, but he has had a hand, or a paw rather, in the training of many of our qualified search dogs over the last 10 or 11 years...

You see, Fred is a sheepdog 🐑 and along with his owner, Terry Brophy, Fred lets prospective SARDA search dogs come to his farm 🚜 to see how they behave around sheep in a test called Stock Testing. Stock Testing makes sure that a SARDA dog does not get distracted by sheep etc. when searching for a missing person, and is critical to any search dog's success 🏆

See the ball toy 🥎 that Fred is lying on? One of our search dogs left it behind at Fred's farm earlier in the year, and Fred has become a little attached to it! Maybe he is missing seeing our SARDA dogs due to social distancing!

Fred, you can keep the toy! We owe you and Terry a lot more for all your assistance over the years, and we look forward to seeing you again soon! 🐾

** Callout 14 **

Glen of Imaal Mountain Rescue team were tasked by An Garda Síochána at 22.25 last night to a missing person in Glenealy, Co. Wicklow. Glen of Imaal MRT requested the assistance of SARDA Ireland to conduct a hasty search in an area that the missing person was known to walk in.

Upon arrival, SARDA Ireland handler Martina assisted with coordination of the hasty search and began searching a forest track with search dog Ella. A navigator was provided by Glen of Imaal MRT.

Thankfully, the missing person was sound safe and well walking on a nearby road.

SARDA Ireland would like to thank Glen of Imaal MRT for their hospitality and assistance during the callout.

Also in attendance:
Dublin-Wicklow Mountain Rescue Team
An Garda Síochána Dog Unit
K9 Search & Rescue NI

These posts serve to highlight the work which SARDA Ireland and other search and rescue organisations carry out. We truly appreciate your positive comments, likes and shares, but please refrain from any negative comments relating to COVID-19 restrictions.

Search dog Murphy is taking a well earned rest day at home today after a busy callout yesterday evening. What a good girl! 😍 show us how your dogs are spending their Sunday!

Stay home. Stay safe. 🐕

Do you know of any kids that like to colour? We want them to colour in Search Dog Fia, and share it with us on Facebook. 🐕 Maybe you can even add in a background! She is able to search anywhere, so let your imagination go wild!

We will let Fia pick the winner at the end of the month, she has a good nose for talent! She might even post a video saying thanks, hopefully you can all speak 'dog'! 😍

Please share far and wide 🐾 🐕‍🦺

#WorkingFromHomeLife #colouring #wereinittogether #socialdistancing #covid19 #Ireland #SearchAndRescue

A photo from our archives of SARDA Ireland training. In Heli: Helen Mhic Chonmara, Neville Murphy. Standing Row: Caitríona Lucas (RIP), Catherine Kelly, Dennis Geoff , Dara Fitzpatrick (RIP), Trevor Hornibrook, Karen Kelly, Henry Smith and Barry O’Connor. On knee: Jarlath Folan and Debbie Harvey.

Yesterday the crew of R116 created a digital signature using AIS to remember Dara, Mark, Paul and Ciaran.

Callout #10 and #11 of 2020

On Monday 2nd March, SARDA Ireland were tasked by An Garda Síochána Bandon to a missing person search in the Bandon area of Co. Cork. The search was later stood down when the missing person was located and recovered from the river by Cork City Missing Persons Search and Recovery. We would like to express our deepest condolences to the missing persons family and friends. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.

Agencies involved:
An Garda Síochána
Cork City Missing Persons Search and Recovery
Cork West Civil Defence
Mallow Search and Rescue
Irish Search Dogs

Today, SARDA were tasked by Dublin Wicklow MRT and Glen of Imaal MRT to a missing person search in Newtownmountkennady, Co. Wicklow. Michael Grant with Search Dog Ziggy, Gerry Tobin with Search Dog Fia and Eadaoin O'Gorman with Search Dog Murphy responded. Mick and Ziggy arrived on scene just as the missing person was located safe and well by members of Glen of Imaal MRT. A fantastic result, well done to all involved.

Agencies Involved:
An Garda Síochána
Garda Dog Unit
Glen of Imaal Mountain Rescue
Dublin-Wicklow Mountain Rescue Team
Rescue 116 Dublin SAR

Mike and Penn are ready for a day on the hills

Piper listening out for the sound of a tennis ball bouncing

Trainee handler Jean and search dog Trackr take a well earned break

Sally’s close up

Lyla gets rewarded by handler Louise for an excellent find

Call out # 9 of 2020

On Friday Feb 28th SARDA Ireland were tasked to a missing person incident by An Garda Síochána Dingle.

A short time later our dog teams were stood down when a person was recovered by the Irish Coast Guard. SARDA Ireland would like to extend our sympathies to the missing persons family and friends.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam

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