הודעה לעיתונות: יכ"ל - יחידת הכלבנים של ישראל מכנס דיון חרום על חוסר ההיערכות 
בישראל לרעידת אדמה, ירי מאסיבי של רקטות, והמצב המחמיר של נעדרים בישראל
ערב העיון יתקיים בתל אביב בבית ציוני אמריקה ברחוב דניאל פריש 1, ביום חמישי14.5.15  למניינם 
הוזמנו יחידות חילוץ והצלה, קציני משטרה, כבאות ואחרים. כמו כן הוזמנו משפחות של נעדרים שמעולם 
לא אותרו. בכנס ידונו בטכניקות לגילוי נעדרים הן בשטחים פתוחים והן מתחת לאתרי הרס.
בין הנואמים, שלומי ענבי, איש החילוץ מיחידת חילוץ עציון שחילץ את אור אסרף בנפאל לפני שבועיים. 
אסרף ז"ל היה הישראלי האחרון שאותר וחולץ ללא רוח חיים מנפאל.

לפרטים נוספים לפנות לגדעון יבין ממלא מקום ראש יחידת הכלבנים לאיתור נעדרים 0527144428

ISRAELI RESCUE UNITS TO MEET THURSDAY TO DISCUSS EARTHQUAKE, MISSILES AND OTHER 
DISASTER SCENARIOS AS WELL AS THE GROWING NUMBER OF MISSING PEOPLE IN ISRAEL

IDU, the Israel Dog Unit will be holding an emergency meeting at the ZOA building in Tel Aviv, 1 
Daniel Frisch Street at 5.00 PM, Thursday May 14 (Lminyanam) at 5.00 PM to discuss Israel’s lack 
of preparedness to effectively deal with the fallout of an earthquake (which scientists predict to 
be imminent) or collapsed buildings due to massive rocket attacks on major Israel cities (which 
Israel military pundits warn of in the next military conflict with Hamas and Hizbullah).
Heads of Israeli rescue units, representatives of the Israeli Fire Dept unit that deal with 
catastrophes/missing people, and police experts have been invited to partake in the meeting. 
Family members of Israel’s ever growing Missing Person’s who were never found will also be 
there to speak about the growing number of missing people reported in Israel. An analysis of the 
last 20 missing person searches in Israel will be provided to better upgrade SAR techniques.
Shlomo Anavi, the Israeli rescue worker who found Or Asraf the last missing Israeli found dead 
in Nepal  after the devastating earthquake hit Nepal two weeks ago will also be addressing the 
conference. 

For more info. Gideon Yavin – Deputy Director of the Israel Dog Unit – SAR Unit 0527144428

The Israel Civilian K9 Unit was formed some 13 years ago with the aim to supply Security dogs to the vulnerable families and communities of Yehuda and Shomron.  The Israel Civilian K9 Unit has placed over 300 dogs and has supplied training, guidance, advice and material support.

The Israel Civilian K9 Unit has subsequently stepped in to fill the country's dire need for a Civilian Volunteer Search And Rescue Dog Unit.  

Why volunteer?  The art of using dogs for Search And Rescue requires a balanced and caring, long term relationship between the dog and his handler.  To perform optimally in harsh conditions, the handler needs to know his dog from a young age.  The handler needs to understand his dog, his needs, his fears and his methods of communications.  In turn, the dog needs to have absolute trust in his handler and feel that his handler is there to back him up through thick and thin.  It is very difficult to develop such a deep and rich relationship under the rigorous constraints of the security services.

As the organization grows we have received much recognition and the public has learned to turn to us for help.

On Monday night 6/7/2014 we received a call from a woman in Chedera, who told us that Avraham Axelrod, her 84 year old father had disappeared two days erlier, on Saturday 5/7/2014.  He was last seen at lunch time and had disappeared without a trace.

The matter had been reported to the Police, but that they don't seem to treat it as a priority and that no progress has been made.

Our team set out to the town of Chedera.  We worked on getting all the relevant information from the family.  We then produced posters to be distributed to our mailing lists, hung up in public places country wide and handed out to the public, by the search teams.

The information was then posted on our website, Facebook and emailed to our list of volunteers (to join our "Eyes of the community" email list click here.)

We use Google Earth to produce scale maps that are integrated with satellite images that show the area where the person was last seen, its topography and nature.  We look at the circumstances of the missing person and we ask, where would he or she most likely go?
We draw 1Km and 3Km radius circles around the place where the person was last seen and we use that as the staring point of the search.

As we were getting organized, more and more people took interest in this unusual midnight gathering of people and dogs, and they joined the search.  Ironically, the local Police patrol, that was unaware of the fact that a person was missing came to inquire, and took note.

One local resident noticed one of the FaceBook posts and independently set out to look for Avraham.  With all the fuss, someone came across Avraham sitting blissfully on a park bench.  After an absence of 36 hours without food and water, Avraham was remarkably cheerful. (Picture below of newly found Avraham with members of the our dog unit.)

It was an incredible experience to see Avraham reunited with his daughter, as tears of joy rolled down her cheeks. 

Unfortunately, not all stories end off with such a happy ending.  

On the previous Thursday, 3/7/2014 we were called for help by the family of Yosef Salamsa of Binyamina.  His family told us that they don't know where to even start looking, that the Police do not want to call for a search and that we are their last hope.

Yosef had been last seen the previous day at 10am and had disappeared without  a trace and without any sensible explanation. 

We categorized the case as a high priority search.  The person had been missing only for a short period.  He was at work and was expected back.  He was not known be erratic or to disappear without telling people.    The most likely theory was that he ventured out and injured himself and the probability is high that he may be somewhere nearby, alive but unable to return or call for help.

We responded immediately.    

While packing dogs, supplies and equipment into our vehicles, we generated the area's maps and aerial and satellite pictures.  We arrived at Binyamina 2:00am and despite the late hour we were greeted by more then a dozen of his friends.

We interviewed his family, friends and colleagues, collected as much data as possible and started to build a profile.  By 2:30am, searching commenced in the immediate vicinity of the last recorded cell phone signal that was received from his number.

During the night we were spotted by a Police Patrol who came to inquire about the unusual activity.  We introduced ourselves and emphasized that we were acting on the request by the family.  By the break of dawn we had been joined by many more friends and acquaintances of Yosef.  It became clear that he was well loved.  With their help we had made a thorough search of parks and building sites in the built up area and a large portion of the 1Km  radius, high probability zone (where most missing persons are found).  

We had stopped for Davening, breakfast and a meeting to plan ahead.  We were joined by the Deputy Mayor of the town of Binyamina who had now decided to open a municipal control center to facilitate our search efforts and that will give the "search" a proper HQ and enable us to search over Shabbos with as little Chillul Shabbos as possible.

Aftre several discussions with police, we learned that our nagging them to send up a helicopter worked.  We soon saw that the Police Dog Units and the Police Helicopter had joined the search. 

The search for Yosef Salamsa had now become a priority.

Within minutes of the Helicopter going up, we received a call from the Police officer in charge of the search instructing us to stop searching until further notice.

Yosef had been found, lifeless in the quarry that was not far away.  Within 1.5Km of his home.  Evidence pointed to the fact that he sat at the top of a man-made cliff and had slipped and had fallen down 50m, to his death.  He had probably passed away long before we were called.  

We didn't find Avraham nor Yosef but we take pride at the fact that we went out and made an effort to find them.   We do take credit for the fact that we mobilized the family, friends and the police to search and find the missing persons.

It is our mission to try and find the missing people as quickly as possible so that, with Hashem's help, if there is any chance, they can be reunited with their loved-ones alive and well and receive the medical attention they need.  

Otherwise, we aim to help the family locate the remains of the missing person so that he can be laid to rest respectfully, according to the Halachic requirements to bring closure to the family and a grave that they can visit and say kadish by.

Our unit is a non-profit organization that relies on volunteers and sponsors.  If you would like to have a part in this wonderful mitzvah, either as a volunteers or as a donor, please call  Yekutiel +972(0) 54 487 6709 or on a US number 19174750789  or Gideon on +972(0)52 714 4428 or israel.civilian.k9.unit@gmail.com CONTRIBUTIONS CAN BE SENT TO MAGINEI HAARETZ LMAAN HAZULAT
POBOX 6592 Jerusalem israel

 

Our dogs and handlers participate in search for the Jewish teens abducted by Arab terrorists in Israel.

Below find pictures of our dogs in action together with volunteer members of our Canine Search and Rescue Unit aiding Israeli elite troops in their mission to find and rescue the kidnapped boys.

Once word broke out that we were available to aid in the search, calls came in from high-ranking officers throughout the region who requested our help. Our dog teams were shuttled in and out of Arab villages by crack IDF units who appreciated the edge that operational sniffing dogs could bring to the table, when searching under rubble, in caves, and in abandoned structures. Unfortunately found all kinds of interesting things, but have yet to find Naftali, Ayal or Gilad.

Our unit is still in great need of volunteers to help maintain kennels, and help with training and searches. We are also in great need of financing to upgrade our response vehicles, expand our kennels, and sponsor much needed additional dogs both in the security and Search and Rescue divisions of our unit. It takes months of training to ready dogs and handlers for the high standards required of any operational team. Please send a generous contribution to help us defray costs of petrol, vet care, food and maintenance of dogs and volunteers, training and so much more.

UNDAY NIGHT CALLS AGAIN – POSSIBLE KIDNAPPING OF JEWISH GIRL IN NORTH
Sunday night, while returning from a Jerusalem wedding we received two calls, one from Migdal HaEmek and one from Jerusalem. In Migdal HaEmek police were particularly concerned about the welfare of a 22 year old girl who was reported missing and last seen not from where a girl was found murdered several weeks ago. In Jerusalem a man ran away from Hadasa hospital threatening to hurt himself. We were five minutes from the hospital so we went there first to see if we were needed. Thank G-d he was found already. We then turned to go north when we learned that the girl had been found alive and well. At last, we could return home to Tapuach to get some well-needed rest and to send some update out to you and other people who are following our work.

WE CAN’T NEGLECT OUR SECURITY DOGS
We managed to place three dogs last week with people who have serious security needs, and we have been on high alert after the recent terrorist attacks at the Tapuach junction, and after the arson and infiltration into Tapuach by Arabs, knowing that we can be called in at any time to help try and track terrorists or suspicious movement around the vulnerable local yishuvim.

OUR CANINE UNITS NEED MORE VOLUNTEERS AND RESOURCES BOTH FOR THE SEARCH AND RESCUE TEAMS AS WELL AS FOR THE SECURITY WING
We are in need of good volunteers to help us maintain kennels and dogs, to help with administrative matters, to help with training the dogs as well as to help with searches and guarding when necessary. We are also in need of funds to finance our operations.
 The unit provides room and board, and also offers customized programs that could include special self defense and field-craft training with a former IDF Colonel - the man who integrated these fighting systems in the IDF – this extra training could be extremely useful to volunteers who wish to join the army later or who wish to enhance their abilities to defend themselves and to survive in the wilderness. We also are prepared to help any serious volunteers with Hebrew ulpan, to finish high school or to continue academic studies, as well as part time Torah studies. Part time employment is also available. Naturally, we want to have in-house volunteers who could help with kennels and who could undergo canine training and who will be available to respond to search for missing people or security emergencies.
Call in Israel 0544876709
Or from the US 19174750789

We returned to base in Tapuach Thursday night to get some rest and to prepare Shabbat. Friday, after buying the food for Shabbat for our unit and for the many guests we were expecting, we received no less than 4 calls about missing people. We filtered through all of the calls that were not cases where we could be of much assistance with our dogs. However, one case in Hod Hasharon seemed like a case we could not ignore.

SEARCH FOR DORON SHANEE
Doron Shanee, a guitarist and artist who was injured in one of Israel’s wars and who lived alone in Hod Hasharon was missing, since Wednesday, 2 days earlier. He was distraught in a state of trauma for many years as a result of his earlier war injury. The Defense Ministry provides him with a home, free treatment and a full salary/pension. He has two children. Many in the neighborhood know him and his dog and enjoy listening to his gifted musical talent and jam sessions with other local musicians. Everyone we spoke to mentioned that Doron has not been the same in recent weeks as he slipped entered into a deep depression recently. Everyone was deeply concerned. We camped out not far from his house, and neighbors joined us on the searches and brought us plenty of food and drinks throughout the Shabbat.

People are inspired by volunteers who don’t know the missing person and who come from far, to sacrifice a Shabbat to look for someone in the fields. It reminds people of the pioneer spirit that once prevailed in Israel. One man, said “wow plain and simple “Ahavta Lreyacha kamocha” loving a fellow Jew like your own self. Like the old days. And he pressured his friends to join us in the search. To see the chain reaction and to see the people leaving everything to help, makes the search all the more effective and meaningful. We trigger a flame in the hearts of these people, and in turn they are a further inspiration for us to continue in the search. Not to mention a much more effective search with the aid of local friends who know the territory and who know the subject.

 Now it was Friday afternoon. that means that if he was injured on one of the many fields and orchards near his home, he would unlikely be able to survive much longer without water. He was last seen Tuesday night or Wednesday morning. I asked police if it was high risk and if there was any searching going on. They answered that it was high risk, and that no searching was being conducted beyond the roads and into the fields and that the dogs could be very useful if we were willing to come out. I called Rabbi Lior the Chief Rabbi of Judea and Samaria and asked him if this merits violating the Sabbath, and the answer was that we must go. Off we went, meeting up with another team from Beth Shemesh and Jerusalem, and schlepping some food for Shabbat. We would sleep in the fields or in the trucks. We arrived seconds before the Shabbat, parked the car, met with local police and commenced searching the adjacent fields.

Tzvi and Nachshon continued searching until midnight Saturday night, understanding that these could be the last critical ours of life for Doron and making certain to cover any and relevant areas in the immediate vicinity of his house, where he left his door open, his wallet, money and dog. Sunday, police informed us that Doron found his way to Ramat Gan where he was found alive, thank G-d.

While we are meeting with the witnesses in Kfar Yona, we received an urgent call to aid in the search for Huracha Delgado an elderly man with Alzheimer disease who was with his wife in the Ramla market when he suddenly disappeared, June 3, 14, erev Shavuot. By time we received the call it was Thursday June 5th in the early afternoon. We ended our meeting abruptly, canceled the Haifa plans and traveled south towards Ramla. Stopping on Highway 6 to receive information concerning the Ramla search, we were unable to learn any information or to reach the officer in charge of the search. What else is new? I decided that we should rush to Haifa regardless straight to the police station there. After all. News was published about the missing person, claiming police needed help and that it was a high-risk case. We had two dogs in the car. Had it not have been for one of our partners, Dudi from a jeep search and rescue unit in the North, we might not have heard of the case.

Here we go again trying to get basic information from police

My encounter in the police station was typical and went something like this: The woman-officer at the front desk in the entrance to the precinct: “Shalom, can I help you?” I answered, “Yes, I called earlier several times. I want to help with the search and I have some good rescue dogs in the car.” The officer responded, what search, who are you?” I am a commander of a volunteer canine unit that helps police and families search for missing people…” She stopped me in the middle of my shpiel, “I will give you the number of the officer overseeing the search, Kol Hakavod.” I think to myself, oh no, not this again, but I am still staying calm as I ask, “Can’t you just call him, I have been trying for hours to reach him…”. Just as we were talking, the officer in charge - Yitzak walks right by us quickly, and she shouts, “Yitzhak this is the dog- guy who called earlier, he wants to help with the search.”

LUCKILY THE OFFICER RECOGNIZES ME FROM A PREVIOUS SEARCH

Initially, Yitzhak pays zero attention until he realizes that he recognizes me from a search earlier this year in the Ben Shemen forest. He turns around and engages in immediate discourse about Delgado, “Delgado only speaks Spanish, nobody is searching for him beyond patrol cars on the roads, but not in the nearby fields and brush. We could really use your help. I have no map for you but he was last seen taking a taxi without money from the market and the taxi driver through him out of his car near the university.” I ask, “What university, what street?” Yitzhak answers, “Down that way near the big white building/tower?” “What white building, what street, I am not from Ramla”. Yitzhak responds, I think it is called Rehov HaZayit. Is that the name, Rehov Hazayit?” he asks the woman officer sitting there. She nods her head, yes. I asked again to see a map to no avail and I headed out towards Zait Street looking for a campus and a white building/tower.

THE SEARCH FOR BASIC CLUES AND INFORMATION CONTINUES – LIKE A PUZZLE

 The white building was several blocks away from the campus entrance. Which place was he let off by the taxi?  I decided to try my luck with the family. I reached Delgado’s daughter on the phone and she gave me some further insights into the case and into the exact spot where the taxi left her father off.

We then met some volunteers from the local municipality near the fields adjacent to the campus, and they showed us where they had searched. I asked them why they did not continue deeper into the fields and they said they thought an old man could not walk that far. I told them that statistically this was not the case and we were set to search the full depth of that field, stretching about a kilometer in one direction and several kilometers in another. If he walked straight that would be approximately 1 kilometer depth. We were right.  But who knows, maybe he turned right and walkedthrough other fields towards Beer Yaakov, that could be a few  kilometers the other way. We drove around the area and the borders of the field to get a feel for the area and to decide where we would begin the search. While it was still not perfectly clear where the exact spot was where Degaldo was last seen, we decided that we need to start while we still have a few good hours of sunlight and that we would try and get more information and more of our dogs and handlers to join us before dark.

We have to start the search, every second could be crucial
Aryeh, our noble volunteer dog handler, always eager to save a life and to search, started to cover the first few hundred meters from the probable last point where the subject was last seen. I drove through part of the fields as I continued trying to call for more dogs and volunteers and more info as I drove around the area trying to map out where we would send our next team. I showed local shepherds Degaldo’s photo and I observed Aryeh’s searching techniques and pattern. Aryeh may only be 17 but he has turned into quite a pro as he zigzagged through the fields, not missing any spots, using the dog and the little wind that we had to its fullest to cover ground as swiftly and effectively as one can hope for. I am truly inspired by the level of dedication and the motivation and spirit of our volunteers.

 Finally the police sent a helicopter over us - flying over the fields. They focused on the next field, which would have been our next area to search, and sure enough they spotted the body about 450 meters deeper into the field. Unfortunately Hurcha Delgado was no longer alive. Clearly had the helicopter been launched earlier or had we been called into search days earlier, Delgado probably could have been found alive. Delgado simply took a rest at the end of the fields near some trees and must have dehydrated and slept through it all until he died. The heat-wave that prevailed over the previous day did not help matters.

After Zaka removed the body we remained to do certain training exercises with the dogs in the general area, that would help us in future searches to detect human remains.

Obviously we do everything humanly possible to save the subject while he is yet alive, however, we need to be prepared to find a missing person who might have already passed away to bring him to a proper Jewish burial, should that be the case. In Jewish law this is referred to as Hessed Shel Emet -True Hessed – true good deed as the dead person can no-longer reward you or smile and say “thanks”. Especially in such cases where there are often no other people out there searching for the lost soul. It hurts me to think of a Jewish person lying in a field waiting to die. It is also a horrible thought to think of a fellow Jew, who has already passed away who lies in a field like a dead animal, heaven forbid, rotting and being eaten up by maggots eating the flesh and by wild animals as they drag the body through the fields. With the families living in uncertainty without ever knowing what happened to their loved ones and without a grave to visit to say kadish by.

Thursday we set off for Rosh Haayin and Kefar Yona to interview several people who were the last people to have spoken to Eitan Cohen, a 74 year-old man from Kfar Yona who went missing two years ago. We were scheduled to go to Haifa after the meeting to complete some areas that needed to be searched in Haifa from Yariv Kedar, a man we had commenced searching for several weeks ago.
Ordinarily we do not initiate getting involved with old cases, however, we were approached by the family and by the Knesset State Controller’s Committee to try and help recover the body. In our earlier meeting we did find new information concerning the place where Eitan was last seen, before going missing as well as other clues that we are not at liberty to reveal. This new information merits our searching certain areas with the hope that we can yet help the family.