Such Accomplished Puppies (and handlers)!
KCSD is celebrating recent certification testing of a number of our newer and more experienced dogs. This is the result of many many hours of training and practice and it provides confidence that we are deploying excellent, reliable search dogs to serve our community. We are so proud of these dogs and their handlers!
From Left to Right: K9 Dash, K9 Ahsoka, K9 Erie, K9 Tika and K9 Litza
K9 Dash and his handler Courtney passed the KCSD human remains detection certification test. At 93 lbs “Dash” does not mean just a little bit, rather true to his name Dash sped around the search area finding both sources in well under the allotted time. Dash is the third certified HRD specialist dog in KCSD.
K9 Ahsoka and her handler Joan for passed the KCSD human remains certification test! This great team quickly found what they were looking for in the mossy green forest near Snoqualmie Pass. Ahsoka is a border collie-australian cattle dog cross and is Joan’s third search dog and the forth KCSD HRD specialist.
K9 Erie and his handler Josh passed the KCSD airscent certification test. Erie is a 2 year old yellow lab who flew up and down 40 acres of steep forest near Snoqualmie pass to find two “lost” subjects in just 44 minutes. Erie is Josh’s third search dog and carries on Josh’s tradition of “long ranger” partners that confidently work 100 yards or more away before racing back to enthusiastically announce their finds and lead Josh and his out of breath support to the missing person.
K9 Tika and her handler Heather passed the National Search Dog Alliance (NSDA) Shoreline Human Remains Detection (HDR) Field Test yesterday. As anyone with a lab knows, it really is an accomplishment to keep a lab focused on task when there is water nearby! This adds to K9 Tika’s NSDA certification in Land HRD, her International Police Work Dog Association Water HRD certification and her KCSD HRD certification.
K9 Litza and her handler Anne passed the demanding SUSRA Canine Live Find Certification Evaluation which tests obedience, agility, control, bark alert in addition to finding subjects in a rubble pile. Litza is a classic energetic and determined butt-wiggling German Shorthaired Pointer who loves nothing more than finding people hiding in strange places. Anne is also a member of Northwest Disaster Search Dogs and joined King County Search dogs in 2026.
KCSD Dogs on TV!
K9 Lyla and K9 Puzzle were featured recently in a KIRO-7 interview with reporter Tyrah Majors and their handlers Liz and Jon. They talked about real life search dog training and wilderness safety in the context of the new Brad Pitt movie “Heart of the Beast” that focuses on the bond between handlers and working dogs. Click on this link to see the whole interview: KIRO 7
💔 K9 Lincoln’s search bells have gone silent
Heartbroken: K9 Lincoln died peacefully last week after a remarkable life of service, achievement, and wholehearted joy.
An energetic Flat-Coated Retriever, Lincoln was an exceptional search dog with an unforgettable personality who always greeted the search subjects he found with a large ‘kiss’. He responded to over 150 search missions and had KCSD and NSDA certifications in wilderness airscent and human remains detection. In 2022, he received the AKC Search and Rescue Award for Canine Excellence for some of his finds. He represented search and rescue dogs before a national audience on ABC and ESPN, bringing his unmistakable enthusiasm to every moment.
Lincoln and his handler, Jon, built a partnership through years of training, missions, trust, and love. Together, they were wonderful ambassadors for KCSD and familiar faces at demonstrations, fundraisers, and events. Their work showed what is possible when a talented dog, a devoted handler, and a community of mentors and teammates align.
Dogs live in the moment, and Lincoln filled his moments completely. His life was rich with meaningful work, great adventures, beloved people, and extraordinary achievements. His legacy lives in the people he helped bring home, the teams he inspired, and the many hearts made better by knowing him.
Please join us in sending our love and condolences to Jon, Edith, K9 Puzzle, and everyone who loved Lincoln. Rest well, good boy. We are endlessly proud of you.
#toosoon
#cancersucks
GET READY TO GIVE BIG!
King County Search Dogs has been there 24/7/365 for 30 years working to help reunite Washington families. Each of our members averages 182 hours/year volunteering on search missions and training activities but we can’t do it without your help.
Consider helping King County Search Dogs during GiveBig 2026 and through the end of the year during our anniversary fundraising. Every donation helps and every dollar of your gift will be matched up to $10,000 by a generous supporter.
https://www.wagives.org/organization/kcsearchdogs
#VolunteerService #Searchdogs #dogs #searchandrescue
Someone is Having a Birthday 🎂🎁🎉
Formed in 1996 with first deployment in 1997, KCSD is celebrating 30 years of service to Washington State and the King County Sheriff’s Office including over 1,240 search missions with King County Search and Rescue. Please join us as we profile our wonderful dog teams as well as training and community outreach activities over the next year.
KCSD is 100% volunteer and depends community support. You can help during the 2026 Give Big Day appeal on Tuesday and our 30th Birthday fundraiser where your donation will be matched by a generous supporter doubling your impact. (https://www.wagives.org/organization/kcsearchdogs)
#VolunteerService #Searchdogs #SearchAndRescue