Welcome to the National Urban Search and Rescue Dog Group (Scotland)

The National Urban Search and Rescue Dog Group (Scotland) is the governing and representative body in Scotland for search dog groups who specialise in USAR work which includes collapsed structures and the immediate area of same, as well as train and plane crashes and any other incident where specialised expertise is required to work within the inner cordon of a major incident.

Membership of the group comprises Scotland's two experienced USAR Dog organisations.

 

The group grew out of Her Majesty's Fire Service Inspectorate's Dog Working Group, which in April 2004 became NUSARDG, covering the UK. 

 

In March 2007, NUSARDG (Scotland) was formed to promote the work of the member teams in Scotland, given a range of differences between the powers and duties of the Fire and Police Services here in Scotland, together with different operating procedures for the voluntary sector.

 

NUSARDG(S) now consists of 2 Scottish teams, whilst NUSARDG consists of 2 English teams,

NUSARDG(S) was established  to provide a USAR Dog team response to major incidents here in Scotland,

Common standards for teams, handlers and their dogs have been established.

Teams must show themselves to be properly constituted and established, with handlers undergoing training; assessments under the scrutiny of Home Office approved Police Dog Instructors and external assessors provided the fire & rescue services and other member teams.

These trained search dog teams are now 'licensed' to assist the Fire and Rescue Service or Police Service at any major incident which could include a collapsed structure, plane or train crash and any other situation where the casualties may be missing/ trapped.

Police Forces, Fire & Rescue Services or HM Coastguard can enter into agreements with a local team.

If you require advice on the deployment of NUSARDG(S) resources then please contact our Chairman or any of the teams direct.

NUSARDG COMMITTEE
Contacts for the Committee are as follows:

Chairman: Stuart Ballantyne, (Trossachs SAR), 11 Tryst Park, The Inches, Larbert FK5 4FN Tel 07796 240 023

Secretary: Gordon Gregory, 1 Holmpark, Bishopton

Treasurer: Dave Ashpool, Cottage at the Edge of the World, East Mey, Caithness. tel 07845 197 686.

The  teams train alongside the Fire and Rescue Services on a regular basis. The number of incidents attended by USAR dogs continues to grow - with the most high profile being the Stockline factory collapse in Glasgow. There have been many more smaller scale incidents in Scotland and member teams have been placed on stand-by to assist at incidents in England including the flooding at Boscastle and scaffolding collapse in Milton Keynes.