King County Search Dogs

10/04/2026

👏👏 Congratulations to K9 Dash and his handler Courtney who passed their KCSD human remains detection certification test today in North Bend. 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. Thanks to Heather and Joan for setting up and evaluating the certification on a beautiful NW fall day.

09/29/2026

SAR TV: Our very own K9 Lyla and K9 Puzzle were featured in a KIRO 7 News interview with their handlers Liz and Jon on search dog training, wilderness survival and dog-handler bonding as real world examples of the Brad Pitt-K9 Odin relationship in . You can watch the interview at:

“It’s very special to have a dog where you work as a team,” Izant said. “The dog’s nose can go out and do things that humans’ noses can’t do.”

09/27/2026

Brown is Beautiful!!
K9 Puzzle met some large and small friends while helping King County Search and Rescue at the Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust celebration of Public Lands Day in North Bend. Smokey is the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest - US Forest Service mascot and SARquash is the King County Search and Rescue mascot that remind everyone to protect our forests and to stay safe in the wilderness.

09/25/2026

Thanks to Tyrah Majors from KIRO 7 News for coming out to Discovery Park on a drizzly September morning to talk about search dogs. Watch for the story on KIRO7 morning news on Monday morning for a chance to see K9 Lyla () and K9 Puzzle (Emmett Blackstone) in action.

09/15/2026

08/02/2026

It's a Sunny Day!
Congratulations to K9 Sunny (a.k.a. The Brown Blur) and his handler Annie for passing their KCSD Human Remains Detection Certification Test yesterday. In classic exuberant spaniel style Sunny swept through the challenging search area finding both sources in less than 10 minutes while Annie did her best to keep up. Join us in congratulating this great team on their accomplishment and look for "Dog 17" on our next mission.

07/31/2026

We had such a great day sharing the work of King County Search Dogs with the campers at Camp Blaze!

Thank you for inviting us to demonstrate what our dogs do, answer questions, and give these future first responders a closer look at the work behind every search. We loved their enthusiasm, curiosity, and willingness to jump in and learn.

Thank you, Camp Blaze, for letting us fire it up with you! 🔥

07/20/2026

💔 Heartbroken: K9 Lincoln’s search bells have gone silent after a remarkable life of service, achievement, and wholehearted joy.

An energetic Flat-Coated Retriever, Lincoln was an exceptional search dog with an unforgettable personality who always greeted the search subjects he found with a large ‘kiss’. He responded to over 150 search missions and had KCSD and NSDA certifications in wilderness airscent and human remains detection. In 2022, he received the AKC Search and Rescue Award for Canine Excellence for some of his finds. He represented search and rescue dogs before a national audience on ABC and ESPN, bringing his unmistakable enthusiasm to every moment.

Lincoln and his handler, Jon, built a partnership through years of training, missions, trust, and love. Together, they were wonderful ambassadors for KCSD and familiar faces at demonstrations, fundraisers, and events. Their work showed what is possible when a talented dog, a devoted handler, and a community of mentors and teammates align.

Dogs live in the moment, and Lincoln filled his moments completely. His life was rich with meaningful work, great adventures, beloved people, and extraordinary achievements. His legacy lives in the people he helped bring home, the teams he inspired, and the many hearts made better by knowing him.

Please join us in sending our love and condolences to Jon, Edith, K9 Puzzle, and everyone who loved Lincoln. We also invite you to share your memories of this extraordinary dog below.

Rest well, good boy. We are endlessly proud of you.

06/13/2026

Please read this twice if you hike with your dog!

06/05/2026

Thanks to KIRO 7 News for sharing some great advice about staying safe this summer!

“A lot of these could’ve been prevented if people prepared... but even the most experienced hiker can have a bad day."