Was Eddie The perfect Dog for the role ?

[Brietta]

It was being used in research in 2011.
http://europepmc.org/article/med/21367548

Thanks Misty, you can be relied upon to come up with the goods.

I've had a quick glance at the link you provided and I don't know if I am taking in the full significance of this equipment as far as victim recovery dogs working in the field are concerned or is the Scent Transfer Unit (STU-100) primarily for use in the training of the dogs.

I get sticking a rod into the ground releases volatile organic compounds (VOCs) for example, which if collected might possibly be verified in a lab as residual scent from human remains but I think this is already a tried and tested method for the recovery of human remains.

I am not convinced the STU-100 was developed to locate where a body might have been and even if it had been in 2007 the research was in its infancy.
I think the ultimate value of the STU-100 is that it bypasses the requirement for VRDs to be trained using decomposing pigs but allows them to be trained exclusively on human remains in a legal and ethical manner.

What does anyone else think?

Snip

Abstract

Human remains detection (HRD) canines are trained to locate human remains in a variety of locations and situations which include minimal quantities of remains that may be buried, submerged or extremely old.

The aptitude of HRD canines is affected by factors such as training, familiarity with the scent source and environmental conditions.

Access to appropriate training aids is a common issue among HRD canine handlers due to overly legal restrictions, difficulty in access and storage, and the potential biological hazards stemming from the use of actual human remains as training aids.

For this reason, we propose a unique approach of training aid creation, utilizing non-contact, dynamic air-flow odor concentration onto sorbent materials.

Following concentration, the sorbent material retains the odor from the scent source composed of volatile organic compounds.

The sorbent material containing the odor can then be utilized as a canine training aid.

Training materials prepared in this manner were tested under a variety of conditions with many HRD canines to demonstrate the efficacy of the new training aids.

A high level of correct canine responses to the new training aids was achieved, approaching 90%, with minimal false positives.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0379073811004701

[misty]

Cadaver dogs. Also known as human remains detection dogs,  have been trained to smell death. Specifically, the dogs are trained to smell decomposition, which means they can locate body parts, tissue, blood, and bone
A trained human cadaver dog will not signal a living person or an animal (except pigs), but it will signal a recently deceased, putrefying or skeletonized human corpse.

https://coronertalk.com/hrd-dogs

Scientists Identify Gases Unique To Rotting Pigs And Human Bodies

After we die, our rotting bodies release specific types of gases into the environment. When a body goes missing, dogs can sniff for these gases to track it down. But forensic scientists are still trying to nail down the exact “smell of death” that is unique to humans. Now, a team in Belgium has identified seven compounds that only pigs and people produce late into decomposition.

When a body first begins to decompose, enzymes dissolve the cells from within. Next comes bloating and putrefaction, giving the corpse a greenish tinge. Active decay starts when the skin breaks and the corpse begins to liquefy. Soon, only shreds of flesh cling to the body. By the end, only hair and bones are left. Figuring out which chemicals our bodies release at these different stages would also allow cadaver dogs to be trained to find bodies at specific points in their decay.

In the new study, scientists examined a menagerie of remains from six humans and 26 animals that included pigs and other mammals, fish, frogs, turtles, and various birds. The team sampled the gases surrounding the remains at nine and 12 months of decomposition.

Previously, the scientists had investigated the corpses at six months of decomposition, and came up with eight compounds only released by human and pig bodies. The new work confirmed that seven of them are still hanging around later in decomposition.

"This means that these 7 human and pig specific markers can be used in the development of training aids for cadaver dogs during the whole decomposition process," wrote the authors, who published the findings on June 2 in the journal Forensic Science International. The other compound, diethyl disulfide, could be used to detect bodies at the beginning of decomposition.

When the team sampled bodies after six months, the bodies had already passed into advanced decay (the bits of flesh stage). After 12 months, the corpses had not yet dried out, so it’s not yet certain whether bodies still release these compounds very late in decomposition. The remains also stayed tucked in glass jars, so scientists will have to investigate whether changes in moisture or temperature that occur out in the open influence which chemicals are released.

Currently, cadaver dogs are trained on the stench of compounds such as cadaverine and putrescine. But dogs sometimes fail to pick up on real body parts, indicating that these training scents do not capture the full complexity of the real decomposition odor.

"A human specific marker can be used to train cadaver dogs more efficiently and therefore win time to locate a body," the authors wrote in their previous report. "Moreover, when a human specific marker is found, it might be possible to develop a portable device that is sensitive enough to locate human remains."

https://www.popsci.com/scientists-id-gases-unique-to-rotting-pig-and-human-bodies/

Thank you. Now we're making progress. Imagine the dilemma for US & UK juries when they are told that cadaver dogs don't just alert to human remains but those of pigs too. Therefore, the science does not support cadaver dog alerts as exclusive to human remains. That also explains why a cadaver dog located a living man in a disused pig pen. https://www.questia.com/newspaper/1G1-334608915/missing-man-found-ill-but-alive-eddie-jones-71
https://www.questia.com/newspaper/1G1-334608915/missing-man-found-ill-but-alive-eddie-jones-71

[misty]

Thanks Misty, you can be relied upon to come up with the goods.

I've had a quick glance at the link you provided and I don't know if I am taking in the full significance of this equipment as far as victim recovery dogs working in the field are concerned or is the Scent Transfer Unit (STU-100) primarily for use in the training of the dogs.

I get sticking a rod into the ground releases volatile organic compounds (VOCs) for example, which if collected might possibly be verified in a lab as residual scent from human remains but I think this is already a tried and tested method for the recovery of human remains.

I am not convinced the STU-100 was developed to locate where a body might have been and even if it had been in 2007 the research was in its infancy.
I think the ultimate value of the STU-100 is that it bypasses the requirement for VRDs to be trained using decomposing pigs but allows them to be trained exclusively on human remains in a legal and ethical manner.

What does anyone else think?

Snip

Abstract

Human remains detection (HRD) canines are trained to locate human remains in a variety of locations and situations which include minimal quantities of remains that may be buried, submerged or extremely old.

The aptitude of HRD canines is affected by factors such as training, familiarity with the scent source and environmental conditions.

Access to appropriate training aids is a common issue among HRD canine handlers due to overly legal restrictions, difficulty in access and storage, and the potential biological hazards stemming from the use of actual human remains as training aids.

For this reason, we propose a unique approach of training aid creation, utilizing non-contact, dynamic air-flow odor concentration onto sorbent materials.

Following concentration, the sorbent material retains the odor from the scent source composed of volatile organic compounds.

The sorbent material containing the odor can then be utilized as a canine training aid.

Training materials prepared in this manner were tested under a variety of conditions with many HRD canines to demonstrate the efficacy of the new training aids.

A high level of correct canine responses to the new training aids was achieved, approaching 90%, with minimal false positives.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0379073811004701

Grime spoke briefly about remote air sampling in section 6.3 of his  2018 white paper (page 30/187) but it's unclear if such methods are standard current practice or merely proposals for the future. http://eprints.staffs.ac.uk/4750/1/Forensic%20Canine%20Foundation%20.pdf

[barrier]

Thank you. Now we're making progress. Imagine the dilemma for US & UK juries when they are told that cadaver dogs don't just alert to human remains but those of pigs too. Therefore, the science does not support cadaver dog alerts as exclusive to human remains. That also explains why a cadaver dog located a living man in a disused pig pen. https://www.questia.com/newspaper/1G1-334608915/missing-man-found-ill-but-alive-eddie-jones-71
https://www.questia.com/newspaper/1G1-334608915/missing-man-found-ill-but-alive-eddie-jones-71

The dog never alerted though,so no cadaver ,it was trained to find.

Whisenant said the outcome was better than he expected. Batten said she was prepared to hear Taza bark, her alert that she had found someone dead.

[Lace]

IMO it appears Grime emphasised the use of STU-100 as evidence that Eddie was trained to alert to remnant human cadaver scent when no body was in situ. Other UK cadaver dogs, which could only be trained on decomposing pig remains, had not received this enhancement during their training ergo, on paper, Eddie had superior capabilities to standard UK dogs.
Mark Harrison did recommend in his report that both the area around the OC creche should be examined by Eddie & Keela and a team of VRD's should be deployed on the land to the east of Luz. Neither of those deployments took place, for reasons unknown.

With regards to residual scent from human cadavers & the difficulties involved in getting a jury to accept alerts without bodies as an accepted science, the Casey Anthony trial is an excellent example of just how much more research is still required. There is a good white paper here https://scholar.smu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1042&context=scitech    which is lengthy but well worth a read.
There are also links to further research papers here regarding remote collection of scents.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/51741220_Creation_of_training_aids_for_human_remains_detection_canines_utilizing_a_non-contact_dynamic_airflow_volatile_concentration_technique

The human remains must have been in the later stage of decomposition then because it is only then that human cadaver gas is the same as a pig.

In my opinion Eddie could not have smelt cadaver scent in 5a as Madeleine if she had died in 5a would not have given off the gas which a cadaver would release in the later stages of decomposition.

[G-Unit]

The human remains must have been in the later stage of decomposition then because it is only then that human cadaver gas is the same as a pig.

In my opinion Eddie could not have smelt cadaver scent in 5a as Madeleine if she had died in 5a would not have given off the gas which a cadaver would release in the later stages of decomposition.

Who says?

[Lace]

Who says?

Scientists -  https://www.popsci.com/scientists-id-gases-unique-to-rotting-pig-and-human-bodies/

[G-Unit]

Scientists -  https://www.popsci.com/scientists-id-gases-unique-to-rotting-pig-and-human-bodies/

They found 7 or 8 compounds common to human and pig decomposition. There are hundreds of chemicals given off when a human decomposes. There's a long way to go yet.

[pathfinder73]

The human remains must have been in the later stage of decomposition then because it is only then that human cadaver gas is the same as a pig.

In my opinion Eddie could not have smelt cadaver scent in 5a as Madeleine if she had died in 5a would not have given off the gas which a cadaver would release in the later stages of decomposition.

Eddie has detected cadaver scent in many cases so that is nonsense. That was his job to detect cadaver scent i.e. Enhanced dog.

[Mr Gray]

Eddie has detected cadaver scent in many cases so that is nonsense. That was his job to detect cadaver scent i.e. Enhanced dog.

If you look at the evidence it takes time for the scent to become detectable. 

[Lace]

They found 7 or 8 compounds common to human and pig decomposition. There are hundreds of chemicals given off when a human decomposes. There's a long way to go yet.

They found 7or8 compounds which at the later stages of decomposition give off a gas that smelt the same as the gas from a human cadaver at the later stages of decomposition.   At the earlier stages there was no gas that what the same,  get it right.

[Lace]

Eddie has detected cadaver scent in many cases so that is nonsense. That was his job to detect cadaver scent i.e. Enhanced dog.

If he smelt cadaver scent in many cases then the cadaver must have been in the later stages of decomposition as then the gas would smell the same as a pig in the later stages of decomposition.   

[G-Unit]

They found 7or8 compounds which at the later stages of decomposition give off a gas that smelt the same as the gas from a human cadaver at the later stages of decomposition.   At the earlier stages there was no gas that what the same,  get it right.

Where did it say that?

[pathfinder73]

They found 7or8 compounds which at the later stages of decomposition give off a gas that smelt the same as the gas from a human cadaver at the later stages of decomposition.   At the earlier stages there was no gas that what the same,  get it right.

You repeatedly get it wrong. These compounds are only released by human and pig bodies! 7 compounds are still present after a year. 8 compounds after 6 months.

[G-Unit]

You repeatedly get it wrong. These compounds are only released by human and pig bodies! 7 compounds are still present after a year. 8 compounds after 6 months.

The other compound, diethyl disulfide, could be used to detect bodies at the beginning of decomposition.
https://www.popsci.com/scientists-id-gases-unique-to-rotting-pig-and-human-bodies/