The Portuguese Police thought the dogs were 100% accurate.

[slartibartfast]

When a person dies, who is expected to die - then to say.... 'He/she's gone'' ....when death finally occurs is possible in that particular context, but not in the context you describe IMO.

So usually applied to someone who has been ill or injured and then passes away.

[AnneGuedes]

One could ask you the same question about the McCanns.

BTW I know of no-one who would say 'I found my daughter 'gone' -  if they meant they found them dead.   In that particular context 'gone'  can only mean she had disappeared IMO

Just as anyone saying ''I came home and found my dog gone'' ....would never be taken as meaning .... 'I came home and found my dog dead' ....by someone whose first language is English.   They would assume the dog had disappeared.

When a person dies, who is expected to die - then to say.... 'He/she's gone'' ....when death finally occurs is possible in that particular context, but not in the context you describe IMO.

The McCanns did nothing to me and I did nothing to them as well. I'm not pretending Mrs McCann killed her daughter with a smack while Mr McCann was playing tennis. Or did I ?

You'll admit nevertheless that Mrs McCann is abusively saying she knows more than anybody else because she was there. Was she ? 
If she's a kind of clairvoyante, why didn't she inform the police instead of calling the body hunter who pretends to be but is obviously no clairvoyant ?

[AnneGuedes]

To go for to die in the past tense is stylistically a euphemism. The issue isn't to mark the end of a process, but to attenuate the blow that news of death always are.

[AnneGuedes]

I don't see any benefit in forcing a dog to alert if there's nothing there. If Madeleine had been found alive, Mr Grime loses credibility and therefore his livelihood.

Ignorant people like us should stick to that. But many don't for obvious reasons, in spite of implying an offence to a solid British institution. The same people then paradoxically are sure that SY is so good that they'll resolve everything.. 

[Redblossom]

I also think that a dog not alerting is a dog doing it's job too. I don't see any benefit in forcing a dog to alert if there's nothing there. If Madeleine had been found alive, Mr Grime loses credibility and therefore his livelihood.

So true....it is just plain common sense..... Im still waiting for a list of all the cases cadaver dogs alerted to, and for any alternate reasons that some people give as possibilities,and the missing person was found alive.....not holding my breath much

[ferryman]

So true....it is just plain common sense..... Im still waiting for a list of all the cases cadaver dogs alerted to, and for any alternate reasons that some people give as possibilities,and the missing person was found alive.....not holding my breath much

A moment's thought should tell you how nonsensical that argument is.

If there is something else in the vicinity likely to trigger a reaction in the dog (such as blood) then no death has been signalled.

And yes, an actual example was flagged up recently of where dogs "signalled a death" and the "deceased" person turned up alive and well.

I don't have the reference immediately to hand.

[Mr Gray]

So true....it is just plain common sense..... Im still waiting for a list of all the cases cadaver dogs alerted to, and for any alternate reasons that some people give as possibilities,and the missing person was found alive.....not holding my breath much

The dogs alerts do not always alert to a dead person..ask grime

[pathfinder73]

Eddie alerted first at the wardrobe and later on the clothes. No blood was found.

[ferryman]

Eddie alerted first at the wardrobe and later on the clothes. No blood was found.

Eddie picked items of clothes up and barked.

The first reaction is not trained.

[Wonderfulspam]

Eddie alerted first at the wardrobe and later on the clothes. No blood was found.

Don't forget the garden.
But it's all just complete coincidence that the child vanished. Kate & Gerry had absolutely no involvement whatsoever in their daughters disappearance & it was paedos what did it.

[pathfinder73]

If this comes to trial we will hear the dogs evidence but I think the UK government may try to cover it up like in Jersey   

[Redblossom]

A moment's thought should tell you how nonsensical that argument is.

If there is something else in the vicinity likely to trigger a reaction in the dog (such as blood) then no death has been signalled.

And yes, an actual example was flagged up recently of where dogs "signalled a death" and the "deceased" person turned up alive and well.

I don't have the reference immediately to hand.

Shannon Matthews?
So just one example....
No its not nonsensical at all.... only if you assert Eddie only reacts to blood...and you know that is not true......and only if you can show  blood was found where every cadaver dog alerted

[ferryman]

Shannon Matthews?
So just one example....
No its not nonsensical at all.... only if you assert Eddie only reacts to blood...and you know that is not true......and only if you can show  blood was found where every cadaver dog alerted

Shannon Matthews isn't the one I had in mind.  But that's another ...

[AnneGuedes]

I don't have the reference immediately to hand.

Find it, please, it will certainly be interesting, especially if the identity of the false dead had been established.

[Redblossom]

Shannon Matthews isn't the one I had in mind.  But that's another ...

I look forward to reading your example when you find it