Category: Missions

Canine Kudos for Max!

Join us in congratulating K9 Max and his handler Linda for passing the National Search Dog Alliance (NSDA) Land Human Remains Detection certification test yesterday. NSDA certification is demanding for both handler and dog but helps establish a search dog team’s credentials for the assignments King County Search Dogs receives. The test is a thorough examination with five parts including searching wooded areas, inside buildings, along roads and vehicle exteriors. Max is a gorgeous german shepherd who certified in wilderness airscent searching earlier this year and we are so very proud of what this team has, and will, accomplish. Go […]

Search Dogs Save Lives!

GOOD DOG LINCOLN! On June 21, 2022 five KCSD dog teams responded to a search for an 87 year old with Alzheimers missing overnight in thick woods northeast of Seattle. After working less than 45 minutes K9 Lincoln, Brenna O’Leary and Lincoln’s handler Jon found the subject in steep terrain less than half a mile from their house. While we give our dogs the headlines, the full story is that a great outcome like this results from the teamwork of over twenty five volunteers from several King County Search and Rescue Units: Searchers from ESAR and 4×4 in addition to […]

Search Dogs Really Do Save Lives

In the early hours of April 30th KCSD was deployed to look for a missing 87 year old with dementia. At 2:30 AM, after working less than 15 minutes, K9 Lincoln found the subject who was reunited with their family. Please join us in congratulating Lincoln, his handler Jon and support team Brian and Katherine on Lincoln’s first ‘find’ as well as in thanking all the volunteers from KCSD and King County Search and Rescue who responded to the late night call out from the King County Sheriff’s Office and Bellevue, WA Police Department. KCSD dogs and handlers each spend […]

Search Dogs Save Lives!

What did you do on the 4th of July? King County Search Dogs was called out at 2:30 AM to help King County Search and Rescue and King County Sheriff’s Office search for a hiker in Kanasket Palmer State Park. Starting out shortly after daybreak K9 Natick, Josh, and Brittney (on only her 3rd deployment) found the subject and brought him safely out to the command post by 8AM. Please join us in congratulating Josh, Brittney, Natick and all the other SAR volunteers who responded on a job well done!

We are still here to help

King County Search Dogs have suspended all training sessions and in-person meetings to help manage the spread of COVID-19 in our community. Nevertheless, KCSD is continuing to respond to search emergencies working with the King County Sheriff’s Office to minimize risk to our members. For example, yesterday K9s Jet, Coulee, Natick and Lincoln were deployed on a search mission to help our search and rescue colleagues in Kittitas County. KCSD is grateful for the support it receives from the community it serves and wants you to know our commitment is undiminished.

Search Dogs Save Lives!

Join us in congratulating K9 Bailey and her handler Robby on their first find! Last week KCSD Dog Team 11 was deployed on a mission to find an individual in the wilderness of eastern King County. After completing their initial assignment Robby and Bailey went back in to a different area based on new information gathered by King County Search and Rescue. Starting from a campsite Bailey was able to locate the subject a considerable distance away in rugged terrain and return to indicate her find to Robby. Working with King County Explorer Search and Rescue they provided aid and […]

Search Dogs Save Lives 🐾

Responding to a 2:30 AM call out in the aftermath of the worst Seattle snowstorm in 50 years, KCSD K9 Gilly and her handler Kris were able to find an at-risk individual missing since Tuesday afternoon before the sun came up. It was Gilly’s second find in the last 6 months! A great job by the whole King County Explorer Search and Rescue, King County Search and Rescue and King County Sheriff’s Office team!!

Gilly’s first find 🐾

Congratulations to K9 Gilly and handler Kris for locating a missing individual (alive and well!) this afternoon in Issaquah. It was Kris and Gilly’s first find as members of King County Search Dogs. Well done! 🐾♥️

New Dogs (and humans)

King County Search Dogs is thrilled to welcome seven new members to the KCSD pack! From Left to Right (top to bottom): Melissa and Kris with K9 Gilly, Jen (Betty) with K9 Zula, Jon with K9 Emmett, Don with K9 Del, Ernie with K9 Jazz and Brie with K9 Cal. Welcome!!

Certified K9 Heros!

#‎KingCountySearchDogs‬ has some news! We have two new dog teams qualified to deploy on in-county airscent missions and two new human remains detection teams! Congratulations to the following dogs (and their humans.) K9 Tule (in-county airscent,) K9 Artoo (in-county airscent,) K9 Jack (human remains detection,) and K9 Natick (human remains detection.)