SAPS Dog Unit

When someone in George needs help locating a missing person, tracking down a suspect, or securing a crime scene, the SAPS Dog Unit becomes essential. The trained dogs here are deployed for search and rescue operations across the Garden Route area, which means handlers must navigate dense fynbos, ravines, and the unpredictable terrain that makes manual searching nearly impossible. For residents dealing with lost children, escaped prisoners, or serious criminal investigations, having this specialised unit available locally makes a real difference in response time—particularly in rural areas where backup is further away. The dogs and their handlers know the geography and climate challenges specific to the region, from coastal mist conditions that affect scent detection to the summer wind patterns that change how search areas must be approached.