Tragedy can strike without warning or mercy:
We are heartbroken to share that K9 Max died suddenly last week. Max was a beloved 7 year old long-haired German Shepherd; a gentle giant whose thick coat made him appear much larger than his 90 lbs. A highly accomplished search dog, Max was certified in airscent, land and water human remains, crime scene and successfully located the lost on more than one occasion. Max and his handler Linda responded frequently to searches across western Washington where they earned the love and respect of many in the SAR community.
Watching Linda and Max work was a masterclass in fluid dog handling. It was a partnership built on mutual trust where Max often had as much to say to Linda as Linda did to him. Max’s enthusiastic jump alert frequently threatened to topple his not much larger handler but she (almost) always stayed upright. We will always remember Max’s joy of reward play with his two ring toys that he would NOT relinquish and how once he captured them both he would race back to his car and wait for Linda to catch up.
Our heartbreak is compounded by another loss: Linda is moving back to England shortly. Linda has been an outstanding contributor to KCSD and dedicated to serving her community. We will miss her joyful presence, generous spirit and steadfast friendship. Linda already had all the logistics set for her and Max’s move to England as well as plans for some European adventures that will now be heartbreakingly solo journeys.
We will remember Linda and Max with gratitude and love.
