Andrew Rule: Two serious cases highlight why Victoria needs trained tracker dogs

The search for missing Ballarat mum Samantha Murphy and the case of the mushroom lunch deaths in South Gippsland underline Victoria’s puzzling lack of trained sniffer dogs.

Hindsight is a wonderful thing. That is exactly why Victoria needs trained tracker dogs, specialists at finding people or objects under difficult conditions.

Two recent cases underline this state’s puzzling lack of trained sniffer dogs.

First, the South Gippsland alleged mushroom poisoning case, in which investigators eventually “borrowed” highly trained dogs from federal police to search for electronic objects such as mobile phones and USB sticks.

Instant result: several objects not previously found.

Second, the disappearance and alleged murder of Ballarat woman Samantha Murphy last summer.

Police hunt for Samantha Murphy with search dogs in Enfield State park. Picture: David Crosling

After four months, the same specialist “technology” dogs were brought in to search for a missing mobile phone or phones.

Result: a phone located on the edge of a dam, together with Sam Murphy’s credit cards and driver’s licence.

Nice work, Lassie.

The mushroom case and the Samantha Murphy case are both serious homicide cases. But the victims in each case are already dead, so using sniffer dogs could well seal a prosecution but not save a life.

When specialist ‘technology’ dogs were brought in to search for a missing mobile phone, a phone was found on the edge of a dam. Picture: 9News

So what about when life is at stake? That is when the absence of specialist tracker (or ”trail”) dogs could cause the death of a person in danger.

Example: When Christos Pittas went missing in rough country at Dinner Plain near Mt Hotham in 2022, up to 100 searchers on foot failed to find him and so the unfortunate grandfather perished within easy walking distance of safety.

Investigators eventually ‘borrowed’ highly trained dogs from federal police to search for electronic objects in the South Gippsland mushroom case. Picture: Ian Currie

Strangely, police refused offers of assistance from a volunteer search dog group — which was unfortunate, because it was one of the same volunteer dogs (a labrador named Obi) that actually located lost autistic boy William Callaghan in bush at Mt Disappointment after hundreds of searchers on foot, horseback and motorbikes failed to do so for two freezing days and nights.

That embarrassment might be one reason why Victoria Police have since reputedly obtained some potential tracker dogs to train. Here’s a prediction: one of those dogs will one day save an innocent life — or track a killer.

Hindsight is a wonderful thing.