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.