The SOS K9 Urban Search and Rescue Unit was launched yesterday, to complement Solidarity Overseas Service Malta’s humanitarian operations.

The unit, the first of its kind in Malta for use in international operations, consists of nine dogs, four of which have been fully trained, and nine handlers.

The setting up of the canine unit was made possible by Liv-Tove Oppedal, a Norwegian woman who donated €10,000 of seed money, and John Gera, a qualified urban search and rescue K9 instructor and assessor who has trained dogs both in Malta and overseas. Ms Oppedal and Mr Gera approached SOS Malta with the idea and the NGO extended its full support to the partnership.

Today, we can say they will have SOS Malta to support them

“We’ve responded many times since 1991 but we’ve never given that immediate response with search and rescue because we’ve never had anything like this,” SOS Malta’s CEO, Claudia Taylor-East, said.

It costs €17,000 to train a search and rescue dog over a period of a year and a half. The training involves sniffing, obstacles, hurdles and taking part in operations at heights.

Mr Gera offered his time and skills free of charge to train as many dogs and handlers as necessary for the unit, which can commence operations by January.

SOS was hoping to set up a partnership with the European Commission’s Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection Department as “this would mean that responding at emergency level will be funded by the Commission”, Ms Taylor-East said.

“We have also made contact with the Civil Protection Department because, obviously, they are the players on the ground.

“Today, we can say they will have SOS Malta to support them… not only SOS Malta but each and every member here who would, obviously, contribute to any support systems that are necessary in our country and overseas,” she added.