Pacific Crest Search Dogs was organized in Skamania County, Washington, in August 2004. It immediately began responding to emergency search and rescue operations in Washington and Oregon. Pacific Crest Search Dogs will respond to other states if requested by appropriate officials. There are six handler/canine teams, with many senior members having extensive prior experience as search and rescue responders. In addition to canine handling, the teams are trained in first aid and CPR, helicopter safety, blood borne pathogens, knowledge of crime scenes, lost person behavior, man-tracking, navigation, wilderness survival, and scent theory.
All canine/handler teams need to pass field certification tests. Tests have been established for wilderness air scent searches, tracking/trailing dog searches, cadaver/human remains detection, evidence and water searches. Pacific Crest Search Dogs presently has four canine/handler teams that are certified Operational Responders. They are;
- Sharon Ward and K9 Seeker (Air scent Wilderness & Human Remains Detection)
- Eileen Espe with K9 Dante (Human Remains Detection) and K9 Riley (Air Scent Wilderness)
- Sandy Stuart and K9 Ben (Trailing) and K9 Katie (Air Scent Wilderness)
- Kent Stuart and K9 Levi (Air Scent Wilderness)
Members of our team are available for presentations to local groups and organizations.
Lost but Found Safe and Sound
This is a program for children and their parents. The program consists of a twelve minute video, demonstrations, and a question and answer session. The video tells about 7 year old Kelly who goes for a hike in the woods and becomes separated from her family.
It tells about the lifesaving lessons she had learned previously and explains how search and rescue teams are called into action. Kelly spent a night alone in the woods but the story does not end in tragedy.
Search Dog Programs
Meet our dogs and let us tell you how they work, and the kind of work they do.