💔 K9 Natick Wilderness Searcher: 9/2/2012-4/25/2026.
It’s what happens in that dash between the years that counts: Natick began his introduction to KCSD at 8 weeks, certified in wilderness airscent at 21 months and deployed on first official mission a week later. In 2015 he helped find a camper who was reported missing but wasn’t actually lost and in 2016 helped find a father and son from Germany visiting our region who got lost on a hike in the Alpine Lakes. Natick added certifications in Cadaver and Human Remains Detection through KCSD and NSDA. Throughout his career he helped make many finds on land and in water to help bring closure for families. Among Natick’s favorite activities were demonstrations and and education events, interacting with youth and general public, performing run-aways and finding kids in classrooms, auditoriums, ballfields and playgrounds. Natick worked until the end, helping find an elderly woman who had wandered from home near Lake Kathleen in late 2025. Natick loved being part of KCSD and working with all the dogs and human searchers throughout the SAR community.
Please join us in celebrating his legacy and thanking Natick and his handler Josh Gerstman for their outstanding service to the people and dogs of Washington Sate.