More than man’s best friend: Lifesaving K9s at Bangkok quake site

Quiet, calm and adorable – these words perfectly capture the dogs on a mission to find survivors buried under the rubble of a Bangkok high-rise that collapsed in the March 28 earthquake.

These members of the K9 Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) Thailand team took turns scouring the mountain of debris after tremors from the 7.7-magnitude Myanmar quake toppled the 30-storey structure.

The dogs searched most of the site in their bare paws but were fitted with protective shoes when exploring areas with sharp metal and broken glass. Though they worked hard to sniff out signs of life under the rubble, few survivors were found.

As of April 7, rescuers had retrieved 21 bodies from the site – meant to be the new headquarters of the State Audit Office – with over 70 workers still missing.

Concerns for dogs’ safety

The K9 USAR Thailand team decided to call off the canine-led search on April 7 due to safety reasons, with heavy machinery deployed instead.

This decision was taken after dog lovers expressed concern about the canines’ safety as they dug through the rubble and entered crevices.

“None of our canine or human members have been injured during the operation,” said Suthikiet Sopanik, director of the Thailand Rescue Dog Association (Thai RDA), under which the K9 team operates.

He also thanked all sides for their concern and support for the canines, who were rewarded with treats and toys during their difficult mission at the site.

‘We will save lives’

Founded in the wake of the devastating 2004 tsunami, the Thai RDA has been training canine members in rescue-and-search missions for over 20 years.

“We sprang into action with the convictions that dogs can also save lives,” Thai RDA declares on its Facebook page.

Operating under the auspices of the non-government Environmental and Social Foundation Thailand, the Thai RDA carries out humanitarian operations in partnership with the Interior Ministry’s Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation.

Its team joined missions to rescue survivors of Uttaradit’s landslides in 2018, Nakhon Ratchasima’s train tunnel collapse last year, and the devastating earthquake in Turkey in 2023.

“We will continue to stand by disaster victims,” Suthikiet declared.

History of detection dogs

Dogs have been used in rescue and police operations for centuries. The St Bernard breed was used by monks in the Swiss Alps in the early 17th century to find lost travellers.

However, police dogs are believed to have been introduced in 1908, when Britain’s North Eastern Railway Police trained four Airedale Terriers – Jim, Vic, Mick and Ben – to patrol the docks in Hull.

Other countries in Europe followed suit and began training canines for various policing and detection purposes, with Germany establishing the first dog training school in 1920.

The Royal Thai Police recognised canines could be helpful to its work about six decades ago, going on to establish a police dog unit.

Best K9 breeds

Determining the best breeds for police/rescue work depends on the task the dog will be performing. German shepherds, Belgian Malinois, Dutch and Golden retrievers have traits suited to patrolling and search and rescue operations, while bloodhounds, beagles and English springer spaniels are renowned for their scent-tracking abilities, making them perfect for sniffing out narcotics, explosives or cadavers. These breeds are also intelligent and easy to train.

However, not every dog meets the grade. The ideal candidate for a police/rescue dog – or K-9 as they are sometimes called – can learn commands quickly and adapt to different situations.

They must also have a strong work ethic, good temperament, physical fitness, strong sense of smell, and be able to bond with their handlers. They must also be able to brave slippery areas, loud noises, deep tunnels, and, as police dogs, have the capacity to attack on command.

The deployment of the K9 USAR Thailand team at Bangkok’s quake disaster site highlights that dogs are more than just “man’s best friend” – they can be lifesavers too.