Yavapai County Search and Rescue K9 Team

Yavapai County Search and Rescue K9 Team The YCSRT Search Dog Unit consists of K9's & their Handlers & Flankers. The K9 Team is one of the many SAR units of the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office.

They are a nonprofit organization that keeps going by donations and grants. The Arizona YCSRT Search Dog Unit consists of 3 disciplines of SAR K9’s: Air Scent certified dogs who can detect Human Scent from long distances, Trailing certified dogs who can follow the scent of a specific person over difficult terrain and Human Remains Detection certified dogs who are specifically trained to locate dec

eased persons. All of these dog’s work in both wilderness and urban settings. Most of the dogs on the team are rescues. The dogs are owned and trained by their Handlers. The Team consist not only of dog Handlers but also Flankers who assist the Handlers in the field with map reading, GPS and radio use as well as watching the dog and surroundings for hazards. All the Team members are highly trained volunteers who devote significant time and personal resources to ensure that safety is paramount for both humans and dogs as well as the Subjects they search for. The teams do not charge for rescues. They are a nonprofit organization under 501 (c ) (3) that keeps going by donations and grants.

This last Saturday, our team had the pleasure of giving a Hug a Tree presentation to the American Heritage Girls. There...
06/01/2026

This last Saturday, our team had the pleasure of giving a Hug a Tree presentation to the American Heritage Girls. There were 22 girls ranging from different ages and they were working on their survival badge. The training took place at Mingus Mountain campground which allowed them to also see how a search operation is planned and carried out including K9 searches as well as ground skills training. They also learned what search and rescue resources are available to the Sheriff’s Office. Part of earning their survival badge included how to plan a safe hike, what to carry in your pack, compass bearing, tracking, and what to do if lost.

Each year, the ACVO Service Animal Volunteer Eye Screening provides free eye exams to service and working dogs. This yea...
05/20/2026

Each year, the ACVO Service Animal Volunteer Eye Screening provides free eye exams to service and working dogs.

This year, SDU K9s Bear, Zeke, and Cash took part in this opportunity. Although search dogs primarily use their noses for their jobs, eye sight is obviously still very important. Thank you to the amazing vets who volunteer their time and the ACVO program for providing this yearly check up free of charge to working dogs!

We want to thank the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office for recognizing all of their Volunteer services.
05/12/2026

We want to thank the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office for recognizing all of their Volunteer services.

Every year the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office host an appreciation dinner for all of the Auxiliary Force. It was anoth...
05/08/2026

Every year the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office host an appreciation dinner for all of the Auxiliary Force. It was another great event with comments made from Sheriff Rhodes and members of YCSO recognizing all of the hard work and dedication to everyone’s volunteer service. Certificates of appreciation and recognition for special service were given. Our team had a fun night as I am sure all of the volunteers from all the different units.
Thank you to Sheriff Rhodes and all of the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office for hosting this event.

Our 4th Annual Classic Golf Tournament was a big success thanks to all our sponsors, donors, golfers and the Antelope Hi...
05/04/2026

Our 4th Annual Classic Golf Tournament was a big success thanks to all our sponsors, donors, golfers and the Antelope Hills Golf Course for hosting this event. The money made will go to our on- going training for both the K9s, Handlers and Flankers as well as equipment needed to respond to call-outs assisting our community. We would like to thank everyone who helped make this a fun and successful fundraiser for our team.
Casa Chevrolet
Blue Compass RV
Doc's BBQ & whiskey
Fat Frog
Yavapai ER Animal Hospital
Urgent Pet Prescott
Sandy Haffner Pet Foodie Tips
Desert Financial
Scouts Gourmet Grub
Preskitt's Pawz n Clawz
Bill Williams K9 Training
Texas Roadhouse
Lazy G Brewhouse
Manifested Art
A to Z Hardware Store
Gunsite
Insight Fi****ms
The Hike Shack
RPM Grinding
Essence Kitchen & Bar
Cardinals NFL Football Team
Prescott Shooting Range
Granite Mountain Gunsmithing
Prescott Golf Club
Talking Rock Golf Club
Costco
Yavapai Title
Bird Barn Hallmark
O'Reilly Auto Parts
Safeway
Lonesome Rangers
Prescott Lakes Golf
Capital Canyon Golf Course
Soul Ride / Mountain Bikes
Stone Grip Climbing
Highland Center
Frame & I
Olya’s Art
Sew & Sew
Craig & Monica Woods
Laser Gifts
Michael Perry
Up in Smoke BBQ
Phippen Museum
Flagstar Bank
Prescott Lakes
Senior Living
Superlative Realty Elite Group AZ
Vinita & Dennis Johnson
Alice Jarrel
Greg and Sue Achtenhagen/ Juneau

And just like that, our 4th annual golf classic tournament fundraiser is a wrap. Everyone did a fabulous job. The mone...
05/02/2026

And just like that, our 4th annual golf classic tournament fundraiser is a wrap. Everyone did a fabulous job. The money we raised goes to continuing to train our dogs and ourselves so when the call out comes, we’re ready.

Every 2 years, the Arizona has a state wide Sarcon where members get together from counties across the state to work tog...
05/02/2026

Every 2 years, the Arizona has a state wide Sarcon where members get together from counties across the state to work together, train, and learn from each other. This includes a 2.5 day K9 track before the main conference. This year, we had our very own member, Heather Lum, help instruct the air scent discipline and Haley Williams with her K9 Asher take that. We also had Julie Parker with K9 Bear work in the human remains discipline, and Blair M. Burtan and K9 Tippy do the combine live/cadaver track. Always great learning from each other and being a resource for our community, county, and state for those who are lost.

Our team recently conducted a night search training operation. Our K9s noses work great at night due to the cooler temp...
04/30/2026

Our team recently conducted a night search training operation. Our K9s noses work great at night due to the cooler temperatures and the team members have learned to adjust their search techniques using better illumination devices both for the K9s and humans. We have been called out on several searches at night and the skills needed for these kinds of searches need to be added to our busy training schedule.

Heather Lum and K9 Cash attended a full week Water Human Remains Detection Seminar with International Police Work Dog As...
04/27/2026

Heather Lum and K9 Cash attended a full week Water Human Remains Detection Seminar with International Police Work Dog Association Master Trainers and challenged the certification at the end of the week.

The test includes an obedience control test, a shoreline test and a boat test. The obedience requirements include tasks like a 5 minute down stay while the handler is 20 feet away, walking across an elevated plank without assistance, allowing a stranger to load the K9 into their vehicle and ability to ride calmly in a boat. The shoreline test includes an area no larger than 300x12 feet of moving water. The K9 must perform the trained final response within 10 feet of the source location. The final test is in open water. The area must be over 250x250 feet. The source must be out of site below the water level. The K9 must perform the trained final response within 20 feet of the source.

This was a lot of firsts for Cash this week. First time on a plane. First time on a boat searching in the water. First time in Ohio and searching in those conditions. We train for a lot of things in the hope that the K9 with be able to adapt to all the firsts. And Cash exceeded all expectations!

The first day of the seminar involved theory and classroom work in the morning followed by shoreline work in the afternoon. The second day helped solidify the shoreline as well as expose the dog to the boat and the source on the water for the first time. The next few days helped the handler and dog succeed together on the water; help the human understand the behaviors to look for and put the boat in the right direction to put the dog in the best pattern to locate the source.

Then came testing day. Heather had to trust in her dog and trust in the training they had received. Cash did amazing on the shoreline and water problems and is now the newest certified water cadaver dog team in Arizona. Every year, we go out and search for people swept away in flash floods during the monsoon season as well as searches on local lakes. So, this resource will be valuable to the community; both within Yavapai County, as well as mutual aid to other counties in Arizona.

Congratulations to Heather and K9 Cash!

Hats off to the Yavapai County Jeep Posse. All your training and hard work shows in these different types of responses. ...
04/24/2026

Hats off to the Yavapai County Jeep Posse. All your training and hard work shows in these different types of responses. We are proud to work beside your team. Just a side note, Jeep Posse is one of our biggest partners when it comes to their Flanking our K9 teams when their not doing their normal tasks on call-outs.

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Prescott, AZ

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