We grieve: K9 Oso died peacefully at home last week after a conspiracy of health problems overtook him far too young. Named in honor of the tragic 2014 Snohomish County landslide where his handler Heather Jo Cutting worked along side so many other rescuers, K9 Oso lived up to his name responding to over 160 search missions and making several important finds during his career. He earned KCSD and National Search Dog Alliance certifications in airscent and human remains detection and also used those skills searching from boats and in the snow.
Whether jumping out of a helicopter at first light to search a remote mountain side or jumping off a police boat to indicate a submerged find, Oso was always ready to go. Heather and Oso had a beautiful, almost fluid partnership when working on a search assignment or when adventuring around the Pacific Northwest. They were a role model K9 team, each one seemingly knowing what the other was thinking.
It’s small comfort to know your K9 partner is finally at rest when the loss is so fresh and painful but Oso has left a legacy as a teacher. Following Heather and Oso on a search mission or in training was always an inspiring masterclass. There is a piece of Oso that persists in what he taught Heather as well as in everything Oso helped teach a generation of search teams in KCSD, around the PNW, and overseas. Please join us in sending deepest condolences to Heather, her husband Josh Gerstman and Oso’s K9 family Natick and Tika.
Farewell K9 Oso 12/30/2014 – 3/19/2024
Thank you for your service and for being our friend.
