Professionally trained volunteers are a critical resource for the search and rescue of lost and missing persons in the United States. Law enforcement and emergency management personnel, particularly at the local level, simply do not have the resources to conduct a search alone. And while they provide the critical command and coordinating functions during a search, they would not be able to put enough search teams in the field, or traverse much of the difficult terrain, without specially trained volunteers. Moreover, much of their efforts must now be devoted to homeland security, hazardous materials and disaster response.

There are thousands of lost and missing persons incidents reported every year in the US. These include lost and abducted children, missing outdoor enthusiasts, despondents, Alzheimer patients, boaters, downed aircraft and others. In 2003, there were over 320 missing persons incidents recorded in NC alone. But there were many that never made it into the record books.

By some reports in America there are more than 30,000 wandering Alzheimer patients reported missing from their homes or care facilities annually. Only a very few return on their own. Almost half of these critical wanderers may die if not found within the first 24 hours. Many more die in forests and wooded areas.

• NCSARDA provides critically
needed K9 resources for Federal
and state law enforcement and
emergency managers.