THE IMPORTANCE OF getting trained dogs involved in a search early was underlined when a bloodhound helped find a woman missing from a psychiatric hospital this week.

The incident occurred in Cork, where as a result of an early call from gardaí, along with the rapid response of Cork South Civil Defence and Cork City Civil Defence, a missing woman from St Stephens Hospital in Glanmire was found by Irish Search Dogs.

Finding the trail

Involved in the search were dog handlers Mick McCarthy and Suzanne Flynn from Irish Search Dogs.

McCarthy told TheJournal.ie that they received a call at around 4am after the woman went missing at around 2am. “Over the years we’ve found patients up there a lot,” he said.

Initially they planned to go to the area at first light, but then decided to go straight away as the scent trail would be best.

“I lived all my life in the area – it’s where I grew up. I could walk that place blindfolded,” said McCarthy.

Gardaí retrieved an item belonging to the woman for the bloodhound to get a scent from, and they were able to begin the search.

Types of search dogs

Flynn had an air scenting dog, Kram, which will find anyone within a specific area. McCarthy had a trailing dog called Max, which will follow one scent only.

“I gave the dog the scent article. He picked [a trail] up immediately,” recalled McCarthy, “despite the fact there had been heavy rain. He tracked her within about a 15-minute trail out towards the roadway.”

They eventually spotted the woman by the side of the road, where she had been lying down in the bushes.

“She was very calm,” said McCarthy. “She was totally casual, she just didn’t want to be there – no more no less. She didn’t know the area, that’s why she lay out in the bushes for a while until daylight came.”

They phoned the Civil Defence, who came and picked up the woman, who by this stage had started walking down the road.

Getting the most out of search dogs

The gardaí and Civil Defence are used to working with Irish Search Dogs, and McCarthy said that the dogs are just one way to help find a missing person.

However, it’s best to get them called in early, and not days or even weeks later, which is what tends to happen in Ireland.

“Dogs are only tools like anything else,” said McCarthy. “To get the best use of the dog or tool, call them early.” While there is no guarantee a search dog will help track down a person, getting them involved at an early stage means more of a chance of success.

Irish Search Dogs was founded in 1986 as a charity and voluntary organisation.