A cooperation protocol between the DSU (Department for Emergency Situations) and the organizations working in the field of search and rescue with dogs.
On 14 November 2017, the Cooperation Protocol was signed between the Departamentul pentru Situaţii de Urgenţă (Department for Emergency Situations) and Caini de Salvare C.C.U, Caini de Salvare Transilvania (C.S.T.), the Clubul Local de Ciobănești Germani Baia Mare (Baia Mare Local German Shepherd Club), the Asociația Câini de Salvare Harghita (Harghita Search and Rescue Dogs Association) and the Asociatia Câinii S.A.R. „Gugulania" K9 Mountain Safety Team Caransebeș.
This marked a major step toward the official integration of civilian search and rescue dog teams into emergency response structures. It is the start of a new path that the signatory organizations will need to follow together with the DSU, to shape common intervention protocols and standards that will allow ISU (Emergency Inspectorate) structures to work effectively together with civilian organizations in future rescue missions.
We all put our shoulder to this effort, but we owe special thanks for the openness shown both by Mr. Raed Arafat — Head of the Department for Emergency Situations — and by the team of the Asociatia Clubul Câinilor Utilitari (Working Dogs Club Association), for the persistence with which they represented us throughout the process of finalizing this Protocol!