Large search in Rostock: Autistic boy and 91-year-old missing!

Large search in Rostock: Autistic boy and 91-year-old missing!

Rostock, Deutschland - Yesterday, on June 19, 2025, an impressive use of emergency services and specially trained dogs was documented in Rostock for looking for people. At first an eight-year-old autistic boy was missing, followed by a 91-year-old woman who had disappeared from a care facility in the southern part of the city. Despite the intensive use of helicopters, radio cars and track dogs, there was no success reports on the first attempt.

late at night, at 10:30 p.m., the DRK rescue dog squadron from Greifswald was brought in. This relevant decision led to two mantrailer dogs used, which specialize in following the smell of missing persons. After midnight, the male kito made the decisive find: he discovered the missing 91-year-old near the care facility. Fortunately, the woman could be brought back safely, which solved the tension in the region. In another pleasant case, a team from Schwerin reported that an 85-year-old who was missing could also be found with the help of a track dog.

What is mantrailing and how does it work?

mantrailing is a special technique used by trained dogs to find missing people. The dogs receive personal objects, such as socks or other clothing that the person you have sought. This practice has become increasingly important in recent years. According to [Tagesschau], there are great hopes from the families of missing persons that mantrailers can demand important support.

However, experts also warn of false expectations of the skills of these dogs. Dog researcher Juliane Bräuer emphasizes the uncertainties in dog cognition and the need to do more research on this topic. In addition, environmental influences and the behavior of the dog handlers can significantly influence the results. A study by the Federal Association of Rescue Dogs shows that the success rate for mantrailing is 26% to 34%. These figures make it clear that during mantrailer valuable help, not every use leads to a positive result immediately.

experiences from practice

The missions of the past few months show the versatility and possible uses of mantrailers. Numerous missions have taken place in recent months, for example in cities such as Geseke, Salzkotten and Oerlinghausen. In these missions, the focus is on the use of mantrailers, which are specially designed for the search for people. They are a decisive element of modern search techniques, especially when it comes to people who are missing in difficult circumstances.