Alaska Solstice Search Dogs

Alaska Solstice Search Dogs is a group of highly trained and dedicated volunteers prepared and available to respond to lost and missing person searches statewide. We are dispatched primarily by the Alaska State Troopers, but are also occasionally called by local Law Enforcement entities, as well as National and State Parks Rangers.

We constantly strive to update and maintain our training methods for both our K9s and ourselves as Search and Rescue (SAR) responders. All our K9 handlers carry all necessary equipment and supplies for themselves and their K9 partners when deployed, and are trained and prepared to survive in the Alaskan wilderness. Our K9s are certified to National Standards from organizations such as NASAR, NSDA, and AWDA. We are always looking for ways to improve our understanding of SAR techniques and strategies to be the best resource we can be.

We do Preventative Search and Rescue (PSAR) presentations to many organizations and school groups based on the NASAR "Hug a Tree" program to teach youngsters how not to get lost, and what to do if it does happen. Demonstrations by our teams with their K9s make a lasting impression on our audiences and may mean the difference in survival for a lost or missing child.

Your donations to Alaska Solstice Search Dogs will provide us the funds to bring qualified instructors, both from within Alaska and from the Lower 48, to certify us in subjects such as GPS and Compass Navigation, Man-Tracking, Wilderness First Responder and Wilderness First Aid, Crime Scene Preservation and other necessary skills for our handlers. We also bring specialized K9 trainers for instruction Area Search, Trailing, Land and Water HRD (Human Remains Detection) and Avalanche for our dogs.