Colorado Canine CO-OP

CO-OP

The CO-OP was formed in 2021 - address several issues with deploying canine resources in Colorado that were presented by CSAR and the leadership of the canine groups. This work was accomplished by creating a consensus among SAR dog teams in the state. Our goal was to create a system where all canine groups can communicate utilizing a Typing system with a standard metric for resource allocation of canines and handlers. Canines are utilized in many different contexts, by different jurisdictions with different specialties and requirements.

The COOP developed a Typing system, which is not different from other states in that it detail resource capabilities. Our goal was to provide police and Sheriff's agencies, fire departments, and SAR managers one-stop shopping for the most appropriate resources for their needs.

In general, you will see that our Type 1 SAR resources are rated to respond to searches that are above treeline, in challenging weather and terrain conditions. Type 2 resources are rated to cover most of the common SAR scenarios found in Colorado. Other resource types include water search, in swift and still water, avalanche, disaster, human remains detection as well as trailing and area search. Anyone requesting canine resources can talk over their needs with an on-call canine manager.

Another goal of the COOP is to provide guidance and support to agencies requesting resources. The canine group has identified where canine resources have not been utilized to their full potential. We will be utilizing a Task Force approach, where teams of resources are consisting of support personnel as well as teams of canines that meet the needs of the search are deployed. Our number one goal is to support the needs of the subject. For example, a wilderness search is most successful when area search teams are deployed with trailing teams and perhaps human remains detection teams. This Task Force approach has been determined to be the best way to efficiently and successfully meet our mission requests instead of single resource model used previously. With this cooperative we can get a team of qualified canine resources to the search.

Our goal is to get the closest SAR dog resources to your search that meets your qualification needs, with arrival in the first operational period of request. Our dispatching system will also provide search managers with resource availability for the 2nd and 3rd operational periods, which should help facilitate planning for search managers. We will have the ability to track resources live in the field.

With this cooperative agreement all SAR dog resources are deemed to meet their resource Type by their respective agencies. Most canine resources within the COOP are managed by their respective certifying groups such as NASAR, SARDUS and SARDOC, or individual groups, such as K-9 SAR, FEMA, and CFC. Most individual canine resources already have procedures in place for deployment beyond their local county SAR group jurisdiction. Each respective team leader will keep the COOP roster up to date with availability ensuring all resources meet their Typing and deploying requirements. Currently the COOP represents 90% of all canine resources in the state.