KCSD Dog Wins AKC Excellence Award on National Television
Wow: We are so proud to report that our very own K9 Lincoln has won the 2022 Search & Rescue Award for Canine Excellence (ACE) from the American Kennel Club Humane Fund. Winners were announced last Sunday on an hour long ESPN2 special that included video profiles and commentary on Lincoln and the winners in the uniform services, support, therapy and companion categories.
Lincoln is an energetic flatcoated retriever certified in wilderness airscent and human remains detection and was recognized for finding at-risk Alzheimer’s subjects twice in the last eighteen months. Lincoln’s handler Jon noted that it is a tribute to the KCSD training program and all the regional colleagues who have shared their expertise over the years.
AKC ACE is a merit-based award, celebrating dogs who do extraordinary things in the service of humankind in five categories from over 600 nominations each year. Honorees receive $1,000 awarded to a pet-related charity of their choice (which will go to KCSD), a one-year supply of Eukanuba premium dog nutrition, and an engraved sterling silver medallion.
Join us in congratulating Lincoln and Jon on this wonderful recognition.
Congratulations Team Riley!
We are excited to report that K9 Riley and his handler Mary passed their wilderness airscent certification test by finding two ‘lost’ subjects in 40 acres of woods with plenty of time to spare. It was a challenging wet and cold day with gusty winds that were constantly changing. At one point the soap bubbles Mary was using to check the wind started moving to the north but before hitting the ground they reversed and moved ten feet south. K9 Riley was not fooled for a minute. Such a good dog!
New Kids on the Block!
We are so proud to welcome four new members to the KCSD pack. Nikki, Suzanne, Elisabeth and Liz (along with K9s Alta, Beylon and Lyla who have each begun training In trailing) have completed their candidacy training and are ready to deploy on King County Sheriff’s Office search missions. You can learn more about each of these great volunteers on our website www.kcsearchdogs.org/who/current-members/
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 Max!
Commander Riker is ready for duty!
Join us in congratulating K9 Riker and his handler Brian for becoming the newest certified King County Search Dog airscent team after passing their field test today!
Riker, a black German Shepherd known for boldly going where no dog has gone before, bounded through 40 acres of forest and found both his “lost” subjects well within the two hour limit. It takes years of training, practice and patience to certify a search dog and we are very proud of Brian and Riker’s accomplishment. Look for them at the next KCSD mission where they will be seeking out new subjects and new civilizations.
