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Elements and Performance Criteria

1. Assess canines for USAR work
   • Selection criteria for canines to work in an Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) environment are determined
2. Canines are observed and assessed in relation to determined criteria
3. Canines assessed as meeting determined criteria are selected to be part of canine search team
4. Maintain search canine health
   • Symptoms of ill health or injury in search canines are identified
5. Animal health care practitioners who can be consulted about the establishment or maintenance of search canine health are identified
6. Program of health maintenance to prevent common illnesses or parasites is implemented, in accordance with organisational procedures
7. Recommended treatment program for ill or injured search canine is followed, as required
8. First aid kit for treating injured search canines is maintained, in accordance with organisational procedures
9. Manage search canine hygiene and welfare
   • Living environment, training areas and search canine transportation are maintained, in accordance with organisational procedures and animal health and welfare regulations
10. Health, welfare and fitness of search canines is maintained for USAR operational and environmental conditions
11. Healthy diet is maintained for search canines based upon individual animal requirements
12. Need to retire a search canine is assessed and recommended, in accordance with organisational procedures, specialist advice and/or animal health and welfare standards
13. Maintain records of search canine health and welfare
    • Vaccination, treatment and other preventative health records for search canines are established and maintained, in accordance with organisational procedures and industry guidelines
14. Decisions to retire search canines are recorded, in accordance with organisational procedures
15. Organisational policies and procedures for recording and reporting incidents that result in injuries to search canines are followed
16. Develop and implement a training plan
    • Training needs of canine search team are identified
17. Training plan that addresses the needs, strengths, weakness of the canine search team is developed
18. Training plan is reviewed and amended, as required, to reflect the changing needs of the canine search team
19. Training equipment is maintained, in accordance with organisational procedures
20. Progress of canine search team training is recorded and reported, in accordance with organisational procedures

Range Statement

Range is restricted to essential operating conditions and any other variables essential to the work environment. Non-essential conditions may be found in the Companion Volume Implementation Guide.

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