‘Snow’ retires: time to rest for New Taipei’s top search and rescue dog

2023-02-27

One of Taiwan’s top search and rescue dogs has retired after five years of honorable service. “Snow” is one of New Taipei’s most highly trained service dogs, and has taken part in many high profile rescue missions. Now, at the grand old age of 9 years old, it’s time for a rest. New Taipei is searching for an adoptive family to keep Snow company in her golden years. But as you might expect, the application process for such an honor is quite demanding.

The dog follows each command immediately, sitting and lying down happily. She’s full of life and loves to run and jump.

New Taipei City rescue dog Snow is 9 years old. The Border Collie - Labrador cross once won an award for “Cutest Dog” in a National Fire Agency competition.

But don’t let her adorable looks fool you. Snow is an elite rescue dog, trained in international rubble search and rescue skills. Within 30 minutes, she can sniff out three trapped humans in a 1,500 square meter area of rubble.

Chou Yu-sheng
New Taipei City Fire Department
Snow was exceptionally fast to train. She’s extremely talented. Apart from her search and rescue skills, her most impressive skills are seeking attention, and opening doors.

Snow spent five years in active service, climbing walls higher than an adult’s head, and squeezing through sheets of metal to sniff out clues. She took part in the search and rescue mission of the 2020 Black Hawk helicopter crash, and in searches for missing people, such as in ManyueyuanNational Forest Recreation Area and on Matcha Mountain. Now she’s getting on in years, it’s time to retire.

Gentle-natured Snow likes to lie down and roll over for tummy rubs. Now her handlers are looking for an adoptive owner who will take care of her in later life.

Wu Wei-yi
Dog handler
Their normal training involves lots of activity on mountainous terrain. That causes much more wear and tear on their spine and in the joints of their back legs than normal family pets would have.

Prospective new owners will have to undergo written checks, an in-person evaluation, and assessment of their financial and motivational fitness for the honor of being Snow’s human. Before they can officially adopt her, they’ll start with a one-month trial living together. Now that Snow is retired, New Taipei only has one advanced search and rescue dog in service. They are searching enthusiastically for up-and-coming talent.

超萌搜救犬"Snow"將退役開放民眾申請認養

2023-02-27

聰明、敏銳的搜救犬，一旦屆齡，就必須退役，曾經拿下全國消防競技大賽”最萌人氣獎”的搜救犬”snow”，參與過黑鷹直升機失事搜救、滿月圓山難事件，服役將近6年，現在9歲了，要退休了，新北消防局開放民眾申請認養，要幫”snow”找新家。

一個口令、一個動作，不管是坐、趴，都能輕鬆做到，玩樂的時候，同樣充滿活力、瘋狂奔跑。

新北消防局搜救犬" Snow"今年9歲，是邊境牧羊犬跟拉布拉多混種，曾獲得全國消防競技大賽，最萌人氣獎。

別看牠一臉呆萌模樣，" Snow "可是通過國際瓦礫搜救犬高級檢定的犬隻，能在30分鐘內，1500平方公尺範圍，搜索到3個人的絕佳能力。

[[新北消防局特搜大隊組長周祐陞]]
“雪當時培養過來(到高級)，其實算非常非常快，天資算非常好，最厲害的專長，除了我們的搜索工作之外，牠就是撒嬌，然後還會開門”

爬過比人還高的牆，鑽進鐵片中聞味道，" Snow "服役5年期間，參與過黑鷹直升機失事救援行動，滿月圓電子業高層山難、越南籍新住民抹茶山失蹤事件搜救，隨著年紀增長，狗英雄也要退休了。

遇到人就躺下，露出肚子求摸摸，個性超溫和，現在要尋找好人家，照顧" Snow "的後半生。

[[領犬員吳惟逸]]
“平常的訓練就是要在高低起伏上面做一些活動，牠們對於脊椎，後腿關節部分，牠們消耗量會比一般家犬大的多”

認養得先通過書面審查、實地評估，確認動機、經濟條件，試養一個月觀察同居狀況，通過層層關卡，才能正式領養，隨著" Snow "的退役，新北只剩一隻高級搜救犬，現在積極補強新血，強化搜救犬戰力。