PHOTOS: Dogs a crucial, comforting element in Oso recovery process
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FEMA crews could not provide the number of bodies that the dogs have recovered, but they will say they are one of the largest assets searching through the debris.
Hugo, Fielder and Bayou of Virginia FEMA Task Force-1.
In this March 27, 2014 photo, a search dog waits to be washed by the feet of Washington National Guardsmen after working the debris field created by the mudslide near Oso, Wash. Some 70 Guardsmen from across Washington have been activated to help with search and recovery efforts in the wake of Saturday's mudslide. (AP Photo/Washington National Guard, Spc. Matthew Sissel)
A veterinarian checks the animals out on a daily basis.
The crew of at least 20 dogs and their trainers are coming from as far as Virginia, Utah, Ohio and beyond. They make up the largest team of dogs that FEMA has assembled for an emergency operation.
Medical investigator Deb Hollis, left, pets therapy dog Paddy on a break as handler Christi Dudzik, center, looks on with Jennie Thommen at the Snohomish County Medical Examiner's office, Wednesday, April 2, 2014, in Everett, Wash. The office is processing the remains of victims from the March 22 mudslide in nearby Oso, Wash., that has killed at least 29. Another 13 people are unaccounted for.(AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
A searcher and dog prepare to enter the scene of a deadly mudslide, Wednesday, March 26, 2014, in Oso, Wash. Sixteen bodies have been recovered, but authorities believe at least 24 people were killed. And scores of others are still unaccounted for, although many of those names were believed to be duplicates or people who escaped safely. (AP Photo/Rick Wilking, Pool)
Rescue dog Tryon, muddied from the day's work, stands with his handler near the west side of the mudslide on Highway 530 near mile marker 37 in Arlington, Wash., on Sunday, March 30, 2014. Periods of rain and wind have hampered efforts the past two days, with some rain showers continuing today. Last night, the confirmed fatalities list was updated to 18, with the number of those missing falling from 90 to 30. (AP Photo/Rick Wilking, Pool)
KIRO 7 got its first look at the Federal Emergency Management Agency search and rescue dogs in Darrington and Oso for recovery operations after the deadly landslide that struck nearly two and a half weeks ago.
Crews told KIRO 7 that this is also the first time FEMA has ever assembled the dogs for the recovery of human remains.
A search dog stands in a water and looks back at handlers at the scene of a deadly mudslide Saturday, March 29, 2014, in Oso, Wash. Besides the more than two dozen bodies already found, many more people could be buried in the debris pile left from the mudslide one week ago. Ninety people are listed as missing. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson, Pool)
Though the search dogs, such as this one, play an important role, therapy dogs also help comfort people working the landslide site as well as those who have suffered a personal loss in the slide.
Comfort dog Sumi, an Akita, shakes a paw with a worker at the Snohomish County Emergency Operations Center Wednesday, March 26, 2014, in Everett, Wash. Authorities believe at least 24 people have been killed so far in the mudslide in nearby Oso, Wash., and scores of others are still unaccounted for. (AP Photo/Rachel La Corte)
"FEMA always operated under the banner of search and rescue missions, and finding people alive with the dog crews," said Teresa Macpherson, with Virginia FEMA Task Force-1.
The dogs operate under dangerous conditions, trudging through muck that at times is 20 feet deep. They suffer from the cold environment, and they sometimes suffer from small cuts and bruises to the pads of their paws.
Rescue dog Nexus, muddy from working onsite, waits to be decontaminated via hose at the west side of the mudslide on Highway 530 near mile marker 37 in Arlington, Wash., on Sunday, March 30, 2014. Periods of rain and wind have hampered efforts the past two days. (AP Photo/Rick Wilking, Pool)
Crews told KIRO 7 they originally committed to working 14 days at the landslide site, but they say they'll be out there for however long the mission might be.
Sultan, Wash., firefighter Steve Tonkin reaches out to Pongo, a therapy dog, on a break from working at the scene of a deadly mudslide, Thursday, April 3, 2014, in Oso, Wash. More than a dozen people are listed as missing and 30 bodies have been found in debris from the March 22 landslide that broke off a steep hill, roared across the North Fork of the Stillaguamish River and buried a community at Oso, about 55 miles north of Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
At the end of their shift, the dogs get decontaminated by FEMA crews to avoid bringing back unnecessary and unwanted debris and pathogens.
