Navajo County Search and Rescue

06/18/2026

The NCSAR team once again was invited to Walmart Safety Fair. This is the 4th year that Show Low Walmart has hosted this great event. Different government agencies come together and present their safety protocals to the public. It's fun for our team to present the Hug A Tree program to the families. It has saved many lives. The Drone team was there as well which is very popular with both adults and children. Lots of hugs and pets for the SAR K9s. They bring smiles to the kids faces.

06/16/2026

This morning the NCSAR K9 Team met off Pinedale Road area for HRD training. Three areas were prepared and while the aids were setting, the team took an hour hike with the K9s. Before we started, a group of yearlings thought we were interesting and ventured toward us. We proved boring! We also had thunder and light rain while searching. The K9s did well in spite! Every day is a good day when we train!

06/11/2026

What a great morning at the White Mountain Humane Society's Critter Camp! The NCSAR K9 team presented the Hug A Tree program with K9 Live Find demonstrations. The kids loved hiding and watching each dog as the dog searched and found them and how the dogs do a Recall/Refind until the Handler gets to them. We love presenting Hug A Tree. It teaches the kids what to do if they get lost. It has saved lives.
NOTE: Permission given by parents to post the children.

06/09/2026

Exterior building searches and parameters were our focus this morning! Double Blinds, Single Blinds, and Knowns. While the areas were setting up, we did obedience work, including emergency stops. Puppy Smaug has a long way to go on this, but she'll get there! Great training!

06/08/2026

06/07/2026

Our Navajo County Search and Rescue team had a great morning of training. Working on compass and GPS skills, as well and line search basics. Found 6 out of 8 "hidden (really tossed)" bullet casings in the high sun - great job team! Incorporating deliberate practice between (SAR) calls builds muscle memory and sharpens decision-making. By focusing on specific, bite-sized tasks rather than full mock operations, you keep skills sharp and react instinctively when a real call comes in. Great job team!

06/02/2026

The NCSAR K9 team conducted an early morning training in Area Live Find. Over 40 acres were utilized with 2 lost subjects with their pet dog. Paying attention to your K9s behavior when they locate a subject with a dog is very important. Does your K9 go completely in? Do they Refind the subject and keep a 6 ft distance from the pet dog? Whatever your dog does is an important remembrance for you, the Handler. Know your dog's change of behavior and put it in your toolbox of knowledge! The dogs and handlers did good and took away good lessons. We finished with HRD with Puppy Smaug with the rest of the team joining in. Our beautiful Hostess, Debbie made us 2 wonderful cobblers, hot Lattes, and cold smoothies! What a great ending to a busy training morning!! NCSAR ROCKS!

06/01/2026

**UPDATED: 6/1/26 at 5:55 pm- Mr. Cowens was located safe. **

**MISSING PERSON- White Mountain Lake Area**

05/29/2026

Great training yesterday for the HRD K9 teams. Seven areas were set up with 0 to 4 sources in an Urban area. Each K9 team had a clean double blind area, then each team rotated doing double or single blinds. Double blinds really help teach you to watch your dog and not rely on the Handler following you, who set up your problem. The K9 teams did great! Young K9 Max has really progressed well and getting nearer to certification. Puppy Smaug did very well searching and tracing odor to source. Long lines were utilized for the front 5 areas, as they were by a street. After training, the team did some fun agility. Good ending to a busy training day. The NCSAR K9 team rocks!!