Barefoot heroes: Search and rescue dogs training base newly completed

With their nimble feet and sharp sense of smell, trained search and rescue dogs can quickly determine if there are survivors at the scene of a disaster. During the 921 Earthquake, the authorities and civilians became aware of the importance of search and rescue dogs and officially opened the road to search and rescue dog training. In 2019, nine search and rescue dogs passed INSARAG's Mission Readiness Test (MRT) in Asia, seven of which came from Taiwan.

Without prior experience, Taiwan has established the first combined base for police dogs and search and rescue dogs, which is equipped with special bathrooms, a gym, and other equipment. In addition, treadmills and balance boards are used to simulate the challenging terrain of earthquakes and train the dogs' physical abilities. Unlike family pets, search and rescue dogs must maintain peak condition and be ready to save lives at critical moments; therefore, a strict regimen of proper diet, rest, and continuous training is implemented throughout the year.

以下為中文對照

赤腳英雄搜救犬 訓練基地新落成

  靈巧的身手、靈敏的嗅覺，搜救犬在經過好幾年訓練後，能夠快速在災難現場判斷出是否有生還者。九二一大地震讓官方及民間都意識到搜救犬的重要性，正式開啟了搜救犬的培訓之路，而到了2019年，亞洲地區通過聯合國搜救能力認證的搜救犬共有9隻，其中有7隻就來自台灣。

  台灣目前建立了第一座警犬與搜救犬的合併基地，還有專用衛浴間、健身房等設備，設置跑步機、平衡板來模擬震災時凹凸不平的地形，訓練犬隻的體能。台灣的搜救犬從無到有，牠們過著與寵物犬截然不同的生活，嚴格控管飲食、作息，並且持續訓練，保持最佳狀態，就為了在關鍵時刻，拯救生命。

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