A NEW Gosnells-based people tracking service with a local community focus has offered an alternative for finding missing people.
K9 Trackers offer a free alternative to the police for those who are desperately searching for a missing family member.
Handlers Sonya Bowditch and Lesley Watson have a combined 35 years of experience working with search and rescue dogs.
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READ NOWMs Watson said they enjoyed a strong relationship with the police but people should consider contacting the trackers after filing a missing person report.
“Call the police, but in the meantime, if you can get us out there within one or two hours, the person is not going to be that far away, which gives us a far greater percentage locating them.”
Sergeant Clint Vredenbregt said the police would consider working with the group if the situation demanded it.
“We’d be willing to ask them to help out in a search. We have resources but if they’re unavailable, we’d be willing to consider utilising them.
“We’re always happy for people to help out. If there is a missing person inquiry, report it to the police, as there are other things we can put in place, but if we can use community services to help us, we will.”
Ms Bowditch said they were focused on helping the community and had already had success in locating an elderly man reported missing from his Maddington home last month.
“What we’re targeting is the communities and the families, especially the elder people who go missing with dementia,” she said, adding most were from the City of Gosnells.
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