Four highly trained search and rescue dogs have officially joined Taiwan's emergency response teams after successfully passing a rigorous certification exam.
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00:00Four-year-old Bagel is one proud pooch.
00:06After officially being certified as a search and rescue dog in Taiwan, she can now begin
00:10the important work of saving lives.
00:12This is a new milestone for us.
00:16Our team is more solid on the basis of training.
00:21So when our dog has passed this threshold, it means that our dog can have a solid foundation
00:28of search and rescue skills.
00:32Bagel is one of four dogs to pass a rigorous certification exam organized by the International
00:38Search and Rescue Dog Organization.
00:40The exam tests dogs on their ability to sniff out people buried in rubble within a certain
00:45time.
00:46Only about a third of candidates made the cut.
00:48I didn't expect this test to be so difficult.
00:55Every test is an unknown situation.
00:59If a dog can overcome this situation, it is based on the solid foundation of basic skills.
01:06You have to plan every little step.
01:10Even if we only have a very small step today, let her finish it quickly and get a reward
01:16quickly.
01:17That little thing will help her in the official exam.
01:21Bagel and her three classmates bring Taiwan's total number of mission-ready rescue dogs
01:26to 56.
01:29These dogs play a vital role in search and rescue efforts, sniffing out people who fall
01:34foul of Taiwan's many typhoons and earthquakes.
01:37Dog rescue dogs are a must-have dog rescue tool.
01:42So it's impossible for Taiwan not to have dog rescue dogs.
01:44Taiwan has had several earthquakes in a year.
01:47We have had an earthquake in Taiwan for five years on average,
01:50but it's the first time in decades that Taiwan has had an earthquake.
01:53Rescue dogs were first introduced in Taiwan in 1999,
01:57after a massive magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck the center of the country,
02:01killing over 2,000 people and trapping many others under rubble.
02:05One rescue dog handler, who came to help at the time, was there to judge the competition.
02:10He says Taiwan has really improved in the past 25 years.
02:14Definitely successful. I remember my first way to Taiwan.
02:20It was 1999. I have been here with my Czech team.
02:24I have been here as a dog handler to help your people after a big earthquake.
02:31And you didn't have dogs, and if you compare it to today, you did a big step.
02:41Dog trainers say the key to success is teamwork,
02:45and getting front-line rescuers and their dogs the resources they need.
02:49These people already have a good understanding of the disaster site.
02:54In addition to the dog rescue dog,
02:57they can also apply these skills in the disaster site.
03:02The skills they have, the skills of a dog handler,
03:05to carry out a team mission.
03:08So far, Taiwan has trained up seven of Asia's nine highest certified search and rescue dogs.
03:15Now with a mix of experienced veterans and new recruits,
03:18Taiwan's Search and Rescue Force, along with their four-legged heroes,
03:21will continue working, training, and answering the call to save lives whenever disasters strike.
03:26Hang Xuan, Sunny Chi in Nantou for Taiwan Plus.