Army Dog Center in Muzaffarabad

Muzaffarabad is the capital of Azad Kashmir, built where the Neelum meets the Jhelum, with the Red Fort, Chattar and Pir Chinasi nearby. The city sits in a narrow, steep valley that was badly hit by the 2005 earthquake, and many neighbourhoods climb the hillsides above the rivers.

Situations we are asked about in Muzaffarabad

• Theft from a house or shop on a hillside neighbourhood.
• A visitor or local missing along the river or on a mountain path.
• Vehicles taken from the roads toward Neelum or Kohala.
• A search after a landslide or heavy rain.

Rivers and steep slopes limit the ground a search party can cover, and rain can close roads quickly. A dog following scent can work along riverbanks and up slopes where people have to move slowly. Because the ground is steep, it also helps to tell us which side of the river you are on and whether the place can be reached by a vehicle or only on foot.

Keep people away from the spot and put worn clothing into a clean bag. Report serious crimes to the police on 15, then call Army Dog Center on 0300-5780720, any hour. Tell us the neighbourhood, the time, and what has happened.

After a landslide or heavy rain, ground can be unstable, so please do not search dangerous slopes. Tell us the neighbourhood, the road and which side of the river you are on. Your safety comes first, and we will explain what a dog can safely do in the conditions you describe.

Areas we cover around Muzaffarabad

Calls from Muzaffarabad usually come from the city centre, Chattar, Domel, Upper Adda, Kohala and the Neelum valley road, where the Jhelum and Neelum rivers meet. Houses climb the hillsides on steep, narrow lanes, and many are reached only on foot, so tell us the nearest bridge, bazaar or mosque as well as the street.

Questions people ask in Muzaffarabad

Can a dog be used on steep or hilly ground? Yes. A tracking dog follows scent, not marks, so slopes and lanes are workable, although rain and landslides can close roads. Tell us the weather and the road condition when you call.

What if the road is blocked? Say so at once. We will tell you honestly whether the place can be reached and how long it may take.

Do you help visitors who go missing on the Neelum road? Give the group, the last village, the time and what they carried, and call the police on 15 as well.