K9 Scent Detection Unit
  |  About UsK9 Scent Detection Unit is.. a reliable, professional K9 and Equine scenting organization with years of combined experience fielding Scent Specific K9's to Law Enforcement Agencies, and the community, primarily for use in K9 Scent Detection for Search, Recovery, and Criminal Investigations. Although Search and Recovery is among the requests to assist, K9 Scent Detection Unit specializes in "Scent Specific" Mantrailing for criminal investigations which may include lost and/or missing persons. When the call comes in to assist, they listen to the requesting agencie/s, and work with them to field the appropriate K9's and /or refer other K9's Units that will address the needs of the particular case working together as one Team/Unit. By combining resources they "get the job done" Specialized K9 ServicesSpecializing in providing K9 Support to Law Enforcement Agencies, K9's are fielded in the following: Scent Specific Mantrailing, Investigations for clue gathering, Human Remains Detection on land and water, Secondary Scent, Negatives, Missing Scent, Car Trails, Aged Trails, Direction of Travel, Scent Pools, Jump Tracking, and article recovery." K9 Scent Detection Unit, works with and/or refers outside K9 Search resources when and where needed for rescue or recovery efforts. With experienced handlers/K9's working around the clock, you can be sure they will get the job done and get it done right. After Action Reports are provided within 48 hours, and are detailed accompanied by GPS tracking logs. The use of these specially trained K9's in the past has proven to be an asset and complimentary resource to Law Enforcement K9 Units. |
History
K9 Scent Detection Unit, is a newly developed K9 Search and Recovery Organization. The Unit's mission is to provide K9's skilled in Scent Specific Mantrailing/Tracking/Air-scenting/Article Recovery and Human Remains Detection for the purpose of assisting Law Enforcement agencies in criminal cases, investigations, and to assist the department with search efforts of lost or missing persons. While the focus is using K9's, the use of Equines where appropriate and/or necessary as mounts and in conjunction with fielding the K9's is a "new" asset for the Unit, and training has started. The Equines are being trained to "alert" to human scent and human remains.
The history began with the formation of a K9 Unit attached to the 43rd Virginia Volunteer Search & Rescue/Chesapeake Virginia Sheriff's Office, and Project Lifesaver. Margie Spencer along with Chris Mayes Co-Commanded the Unit. Very quickly, many Law Enforcement Agencies in Virginia and North Carolina began using the K9 Unit on criminal cases, and the decision to branch off and form a "specialized unit" was born. Margie went on to establish a Mantrailing Unit and specialized training began making this K9 Unit in high demand for their K9's specialized scent specific abilities. VK9 Scent Specific Search & Recovery Unit was founded in 2003. Margie Spencer recruited and trained members with there're K9's while commanding efforts of VK9, which is still active and responding to LE agencies nationally under the Command of Sarah Platts, and Officer in Charge of the Virginia Unit, and Julie Jones, regional Director in the New England Areas. VK9 is the primary referral unit to K9 Scent Detection Unit.
Margie Spencer, Commander, K9 Scent Detection Unit, and former Commander of VK9 is well known for providing Search and Recovery assistance for almost 10 years to Law Enforcement in the disciplins of Mantrailing, and Human Remains Detection with her previous K9 - General Patton, a Bloodhound, now deceased. After a 3 year break from Search and Recovery, her passion and dedication to once again provide SAR resources to Law Enforcement and the Community remain strong and training is in progress.
K9 Scent Detection Unit welcomes the opportunity to assist your department. Please review a partial listing of Law Enforcement Testimonials from actual cases. Click on the tab, "Testimonials"
A Must Read! (James City, Virginia)
Washington Post Article -
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/02/AR2005080200023.html
