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.

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.