Why did Korea send only 2 rescue dogs to Japan?

By Kim Tae-jong

The government pledged full support to Japan in the wake of the 9.0-magnitude earthquake in the neighboring country last Friday.

So it could be viewed as disappointing or stingy when Seoul first sent a rescue team consisting of only five rescue workers and two rescue dogs to Japan. No additional rescue dogs were included in the second batch of 102 rescue workers.

Compared to other international rescue teams, it’s all the more embarrassing ― the United states sent 12 rescue dogs, Mexico six and Germany three.

Why did Korea send only two dogs? The answer is simple. “We only have two rescue dogs, and they are the only ones with experience in search and rescue operations overseas,” said Oh Seung-hun, a section chief at the National 119 Rescue Services.

The two German Shepherds, one four, the other seven, having gone through a tough training course, and saved a number of lives in emergencies at home and abroad, Oh said.

“They are veterans and have participated in operations both in Haiti and China when massive earthquakes hit the two countries,” he said.

There are 15 more rescue dogs in regional branches across the country but they are not ready or qualified for international operations, Oh said, citing the lack of experience and preparation.

It is known that a rescue dog is worth 20,000 rescue workers in terms of effectiveness in search operations and their value is much appreciated in disaster-stricken areas like in Japan now.

“Disaster-hit nations usually request rescue dogs first and the most, even more than rescue workers, as their ability in search efforts is crucial,” Oh said.

Despite the importance of rescue dogs, emergency agencies here have had difficulties in dispatching them due to the shortage of well-trained rescue dogs.

Different from drug-detecting and seeing-eye dogs, training rescue dogs is much more rigorous, time-consuming and comprehensive for both the dog and the handler. It usually takes three to four years and costs up to 200 million won ($176,000) to fully train a rescue dog until its first deployment,

“Also, different from those specialized in other fields, rescue dogs are placed in more dangerous situations making them more vulnerable to injury and death,” Oh said

The supply of rescue dogs here has become even more difficult as Samsung’s Everland, which operates a dog training center, decided to stop donating rescue dogs to emergency agencies in October.

Everland announced it will focus only on raising and training guide dogs for the blind.

Since 1998, the training center has been the sole source with 36 trained rescue dogs donated to emergency agencies. Of them, 19 have been retired either from old age or injury.

The central emergency agency has established a separate dog training center and hired four professional trainers. The center will be operational from April, starting with 11 dogs donated by Everland.