Fujian Red Cross Rescue Dog Emergency Response Team is officially established on Dec 19 in Sanming, Fujian province. [Photo/Red Cross Society of China Fujian Branch]

The Fujian Red Cross Rescue Dog Emergency Response Team, China's first such team, was officially established on Dec 19 in Shaxian district, Sanming city, Fujian province.

This team is a collaborative effort between the Red Cross Society of China Fujian Branch and the Fujian City Light Disaster Relief Service Center, formed through a "naming cooperation and agreement signing" approach. It represents a significant enhancement of Fujian's Red Cross emergency rescue system and a notable boost in professional rescue capabilities.

Comprising 30 core members — including search and rescue dog handlers, canine training experts, and psychological counselors — the team is equipped with 112 working dogs. Their primary mission is to conduct emergency search and rescue operations following natural disasters and other emergencies within Fujian. They also provide psychological support and emotional counseling to affected individuals through the assistance of rescue dogs.

Under the unified leadership and emergency dispatch of the Fujian Red Cross Society, the team will continue to enhance its capabilities. The society plans to improve the team's emergency response skills through systematic training, practical drills, and skills assessments, aiming to develop a nationally leading working-dog rescue system.