Tag: missions

500 Club!

During our recent 2024 holiday celebration we honored three members who have each surpassed 500 search missions: An amazing milestone! Joan Hitchner, Heather Jo Cutting and Greg Varney (L-R) have responded to 503, 529 and 614 callouts, respectively, from the King County Sheriff’s Office since joining KCSD. 500 missions is an extraordinary achievement for any SAR volunteer especially a K9 handler. Please join us in congratulating the inaugural members of the KCSD 500 Club; Greg, Heather and Joan for their combined 79 years of commitment as well as thanking them for their continuing community service.

Tune in to KCSD!

Listen to “The American Canine” podcast to hear Josh Gerstman and Heather Jo Cutting discuss their 20+ years of search dog experience with host Tony McFee. The conversation covers their first exposure to search dogs through to search and rescue becoming their lifestyle. They also describe finding suitable puppies and the training required to become certified search dog team. A great listen!

Search Dogs Save Lives!

Join us in congratulating K9 Bailey and her handler Robby on their first find! Last week KCSD Dog Team 11 was deployed on a mission to find an individual in the wilderness of eastern King County. After completing their initial assignment Robby and Bailey went back in to a different area based on new information gathered by King County Search and Rescue. Starting from a campsite Bailey was able to locate the subject a considerable distance away in rugged terrain and return to indicate her find to Robby. Working with King County Explorer Search and Rescue they provided aid and […]

Certified K9 Heros!

#‎KingCountySearchDogs‬ has some news! We have two new dog teams qualified to deploy on in-county airscent missions and two new human remains detection teams! Congratulations to the following dogs (and their humans.) K9 Tule (in-county airscent,) K9 Artoo (in-county airscent,) K9 Jack (human remains detection,) and K9 Natick (human remains detection.)