All County Search and Rescue

Thank you Chippewa County Sheriff's Office for inviting us to this search. Several members and K-9’s participated in this search.

🐾 K9 Training Report: Oscoda County Fairgrounds 🐾
​Windy conditions and wide-open spaces made for an incredible training day! Our teams headed to the Oscoda County Fairgrounds to sharpen their skills against some challenging 11.5 MPH winds. From miles of trails to deep building clears, these dogs proved once again why they are invaluable assets to our community.
​🐕 The Tracking Team
​The wind didn't stop our trackers from hitting their marks.
​Finely & Teeter: Both dogs successfully pushed through almost one mile of trail through the fairgrounds!
​Special Guest: Deputy Josh Esch joined the team today, accompanying Finely on his track. We always appreciate the support and the extra set of eyes from the Sheriff’s Office!
​🌬️ Air Scent & Area Search
​Bentley: A perfect 3-for-3 day! He successfully located two subjects inside buildings and nailed a find on a moving subject.
​Xena: Handled a dual-purpose day with ease, clearing a building to find her subject before transitioning into HRD work.
​Stryker: Showed off his incredible nose during an area search. While the area was clear, he accurately alerted on a building and a specific chair where a subject had previously been, before finding a second subject in another building. He wrapped up the day with some solid HR work.
​🔍 HRD (Human Remains Detection)
​Precision is key, and these teams were dialed in:
​Brie & Justice: These two worked side-by-side, clearing multiple sectors and executing a thorough building search.
​Rikki: Put in some great work today focusing on HRD indication drills, sharpening those vital alert skills!
​❤️ A Huge Thank You!
​Training days like this wouldn't be possible without our amazing community support:
​ A massive shout out to John and Linda for volunteering their time to help us train! We couldn't do it without our "subjects."
​ Thank you again to Deputy Esch for joining the lines.
​Thanks to the Oscoda County Fairgrounds for letting us utilize the grounds.
​These dogs are ready for whatever the wind blows their way. 🐕‍🦺💨
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Yesterday, our team headed into the field in Oscoda County for a large-scale training exercise with a deep sense of purpose. We focused on a 1978 plane crash site that had two passengers on board, using the day to sharpen our skills while searching for any remaining evidence that might bring long-awaited closure to the families involved.

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We successfully integrated multiple search teams from across the State of Michigan.
We established a fully operational command center to manage field communications and logistics.
Three drones were deployed to provide overwatch and high-resolution mapping of the area.
Teams navigated challenging terrain, including steep ridges and deep ravines, which provided excellent practice for the upcoming search season.

​The 60° weather was perfect for a full afternoon of work. It was a great opportunity to get our navigation and communication protocols "clicking" while working alongside our partners from throughout the state.

​We remain committed to honing our craft and never forgetting those who are still waiting for answers.

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🐾 Behind the Scenes: Wind, Sun, and Paws at Ogemaw!
​Ever wonder what a "day at the office" looks like for a Search and Rescue team? Today, we took over the Ogemaw County Fairgrounds for some serious skill-building.
​The sun was out, but don't let those clear skies fool you—the 8mph winds were "whirling," creating a perfect (and tricky!) laboratory for our K9s to work through shifting scent patterns. 🌪️☀️
​🐕 The K9 Crew in Action
​We had a full house today working across multiple disciplines:
​Trailing Dogs (2): Nailing those specific scent tracks despite the breeze.
​Air Scent Dogs (4): Catching "pockets" of scent across the open grounds.
​HRD Dog (1): Focused, precise, and getting the job done.
​📡 The "Brain" of the Operation
​Behind every successful dog is a team of humans making sure the mission stays on track!
​Incident Command: Our trailer was up and running, serving as our mobile HQ.
​Field Support: Our navigators and comms team kept everyone synced and safe.
​Eyes in the Sky: Our drone pilot provided that crucial bird’s-eye view, proving once again how much tech enhances our search capabilities. 🛸
​Fun Fact: When the wind "swirls" like it did today, it creates "scent pools" around buildings and fences. It’s like a giant puzzle for the dogs—and watching them solve it is the best part of the job!
​Huge thanks to the team for the dedication. Every hour we spend here is an hour we’re better prepared for when the call comes.
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