March 22, 2013
The disaster rescue dogs that
participated in the issuing ceremony.
On the 21st, in the prefecture police headquarters
of Yokohama Cities' Naka Ward, disaster rescue dogs went through an issuing
ceremony to perform human rescue operations in disaster areas. 6 dogs were
signed in for a 1 year period, starting April 1st. In the case that an
earthquake or landslide occurs within the prefecture, they would help search
for the location of missing persons.
6 dogs were collected, having passed testing
from the International Rescue Dog Association with excellent results. The dogs came from
4 different breeds, including German Shepherds and Golden Retrievers. At the
issuing ceremony, Sudou Masahiko, Chief of Prefecture Police Crisis Management
and Preparation greeted the attendees. "Further strengthening our
cooperation, we hope to be completely prepared in responding to
disasters." The dog's handlers received certificates entrusting the dogs
into the police force.
Kanagawa Prefecture’s system of disaster
rescue dogs was introduced to the police as they dealt with 1995's Great Hanshin Earthquake. Directly
after the 2011 Great Disaster of Eastern Japan, 6 dogs were entrusted to the
prefecture police of Miyagi to search for missing people. Murase Hidehiro,
Board Chairman of the non-profit Rescue Dog Trainer's Association commented
"Disaster rescue dogs are the first to arrive at a scene and are able to
pinpoint the exact location of survivors." Emphasizing that point, he
argued for the necessity of increasing the amount of rescue dogs within the
country.
災害救助犬、 県警が６匹に嘱託／神奈川
2013年3月22日
嘱託書交付式に参加した災害救助犬
災害現場で人命救助活動を行う災害救助犬の嘱託書交付式が２１日、横浜市中区の県警本部で開かれた。６匹が嘱託され、４月１日から１年間、県内を中心に地震や土砂崩れが発生した場合、現場で行方不明者の捜索に当たる。
６匹は国際救助犬連盟の試験で優秀な成績を収めたシェパードやゴールデンレトリバーなど４犬種。交付式で、県警の須藤正彦危機管理対策課長が「連携をさらに強化し、応急災害対策の態勢を万全にしたい」とあいさつし、指導手らに嘱託書を手渡した。
県警は阪神大震災が発生した１９９５年に災害救助犬の嘱託制度を導入。２０１１年の東日本大震災の発生直後には、県警嘱託の６匹が宮城県内で行方不明者の捜索活動に参加した。ＮＰＯ法人救助犬訓練士協会の村瀬英博理事長は「災害救助犬はいち早く現場に駆け付け、生存者の捜索に当たることができる」と強調し、国内での救助犬増加の必要性を訴えた。
