THE k9 team
Nevada County’s Canine Heroes: Tracking Scents, Saving Lives.
Nevada County is home to a large and well respected Search and Rescue Dog Team, and we’re on a mission to save lives. All of our dogs and handlers are to ready to leap into action. Their superpowers? Speed, agility, and impeccable scent detection. When someone goes missing, our four-legged heroes hit the trails, noses to the ground, following the invisible threads of human scent.
On a typical search, our dogs become the “nose,” alerting their handlers to discoveries—whether it’s a lost hiker, a stranded traveler, or a vital piece of evidence. But that’s not all! Our dedicated handlers step into multiple roles: interpreters, decoding the language of paw prints; navigators, charting the course through rugged terrain; and radio operators, keeping the team connected.
Our K9 Team doesn’t stop at county lines. When mutual aid calls echo across California, we’re there. Our dogs and handlers stand united. Ready anytime, anywhere.
What it takes…
Becoming a certified K9 Team member isn’t easy. It’s an intensive two-year journey through the California Rescue Dog Association (CARDA) apprenticeship program. Handlers and their dogs learn to read nature’s signs, from trailing scents to navigating avalanche scenarios. They emerge as a cohesive unit, ready to face any challenge.
Our dog handlers are more than leash-holders. They train their K9 partners in agility, obedience, and the art of scent detection. But that’s not all. They’re physically fit, ready to tackle any landscape, and equipped with first responder medical skills. When the call comes, they’re the ones who interpret paw prints, navigate treacherous paths, and keep the team connected.