Northwest K9 Search and Recovery

07/09/2025

Way to go, Reese!

07/08/2025

NWK9 Scenarios 2025 ✅
What an incredible weekend of dogs, drive, and development!

Handlers and K9s showed up ready to learn and work in real-world scenarios—pushing limits and building trust. From wilderness problems to building searches, distraction scenarios to surprise transitions, everyone brought the heat

We saw growth and solid teamwork from every team. Huge shoutout to everyone behind the scenes who made this possible.

07/03/2025

This past weekend, NWK9 hosted its annual scenarios with teams from all over North America. Teams came in with a great attitude and both handlers and dogs were challenged in a great way.

Have you ever wondered what time smells like? Your dog may be able to help.

10/09/2024

Our very own, Reese Irwin, on a search last year.

The photo by Rebecca Faul of Pueblo County Sheriff's Office SAR was submitted in the best rescue category of our photo contest. "This photo is of Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office team lead Reese Irwin near the summit of Greenhorn Peak during the rescue of five overdue hikers from Chicago. On November 22nd, 2023, the Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch Center received a 911 call from hikers near Greenhorn Peak, reporting they were cold, wet, and could not continue on their hike. PCSO SAR and Rye Fire were activated, who subsequently activated Flight For Life Lifeguard 4 for a lift ticket insertion. Two members of PCSO SAR were inserted on the summit of North Peak to gain access to the subjects while members of the PCSO fire team hiked from the Bartlett Trailhead, breaking trail through three feet of snow for ingress and egress. After warming the five family members, the two PCSO SAR members hiked the family over the saddle between Greenhorn Peak and North Peak to waiting resources from PCSO Fire, where they were then driven back to their waiting family, all in time for Thanksgiving the following day. Of note, this family was well prepared, traveling with their ten essentials, and called 911 before dark and before their cell phones were low on battery."

10/07/2024

10/03/2024

Member Cait and her SAR K9 headed out to help with the hurricane aftermath.

UT-TF1 update:

Utah Task Force 1 has received activation orders to deploy 1 additional canine search team, and a Search Team Manager to assist with search and rescue operations, across the devastated areas in the aftermath of
Cait Clawson and Swayze, a Human Remains Detection dog, will be joining the 52 live find and 30 Human Remains Detection dogs currently on the ground working.
Craig Orum will be working as a Search Team Manager. STM’s help manage canines assigned missions throughout the day.
We wish our team members safe travels.





Unified Fire Authority

09/18/2024

Janie with her certified SAR dog Charger headed nose first into an open water problem

📍Winchester Lake State Park, Idaho
July 2024

09/17/2024

Our team lead and founder of NWK9, KT Irwin with super dog Willa on a search for Jared Hammack in June 2009.

KT had gone a few times with both her search dogs, Willa and Nia looking for Jared. He had slipped above on the granite rock and where the water was benign. He then fell into the cold, rushing water way down below. Jared’s family didn’t see where he had gone.

Pictured is where KT sent K9 Willa, harnessed and ready to swim across the rapid water. All previous alerts had led them to this spot. He was found just below the large boulders, under the water.

📍 Paint Rock Creek Search
Hyattville, Wyoming. June 2009

06/04/2024

This past weekend NWK9 SAR hosted their annual scenarios workshop with teams from Alaska, Idaho, South Dakota, Washington, and Canada.

Many great scenarios were set up. Special thanks to all who made this possible and thank you to the teams who participated!