Oso mudslide put search dogs and handlers to the test

BRYANT — To appreciate the work of the search dogs and their handlers after the deadly Oso mudslide in March is to hang out with them on a tree farm north of Arlington in June.

Or just about any other weekend, at any other time of year, for that matter.

It is to understand that the training never stops and the dogs that make the grade are few and far between.

On Saturday and Sunday, many of the human-and-dog tandems that worked in the Oso debris fields were reunited for training exercises. They also had a chance to share what they learned from their experiences.

After the slide, they toiled alongside loggers operating heavy equipment with deft touch as well as scientists and emergency management experts who tapped into technology to analyze the mudflow to pinpoint with remarkable accuracy the areas where victims would be found.

Suzanne Elshult of Edmonds spent 10 days working in the debris fields. With her was Keb, her 4-year-old labrador retriever certified in air-scent and human-remains detection and now in training for avalanches and disasters.

They stay busy.

“It’s a lifestyle,” Elshult said. “You have to love it and be totally committed to it.”

The reward for Elshult is her love of dogs, hiking, the wilderness and helping others.

The Oso experience was both traumatic and uplifting. Searchers were able to recover 42 bodies of the 43 people reported missing.

“There were literally hundreds of volunteers working in unison together,” she said. “I would look around and think this is why I am doing this. This is why I am here.”

Elshult has been a member of the Snohomish County Volunteer Search and Rescue team for 13 years. Her husband used to be a volunteer on the search-and-rescue helicopter team.

More than a half dozen dog teams from county search-and-rescue worked at Oso. Many others helped with field operations and in other support roles.

All told, there were at least 27 canine search organizations taking part in the Oso recovery efforts. Those groups sent roughly 80 teams from several states and Canada. Not included in those numbers were the dog teams from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

On Saturday, Snohomish County Search and Rescue hosted a training session that allowed dogs and their handlers to practice their navigation skills. Teams came from far and wide, in state and out of state.

Guy Mansfield of Edmonds, a search and rescue volunteer, served as coordinator for the mock search for missing sky divers. It took countless hours to organize. The exercise allowed teams from different jurisdictions to work together on short notice, a kind of micro-model of the Oso experience, but with less stress. The teams analyzed locations of cell-phone pings, converting latitude and longitude into searchable areas.

Saturday was sunny; often, in training, it’s not.

“We practice in all weather, including pouring-down rain,” Mansfield said.

Elshult and Keb practiced with the others.

She put a special collar around her dog’s neck. For Keb, that collar means it is time for serious business.

Keb worked quickly, creating her own grid, sniffing through the brush and sitting down next to her find. Within minutes, she’d sat down three times. Sure enough, each time she sat down she’d successfully uncovered what they were looking for.

Being a successful team truly is a partnership.

“The hardest part is for handlers to learn to read their dog’s body language,” Elshult said. “It’s easier to train the dogs than it is to train the handlers.”

The communication can be subtle: a change in posture, an angle of the tail, the action of the ears.

Lisa Bishop of Kent, and Cody, her border collie-cattle dog mix, returned to Snohomish County on Saturday. Cody is FEMA-certified in live rescues and is now training hard in searching for bodies.

The volunteers from Northwest District Search Dogs came bearing gifts. During the Oso search, they’d been given four cases of Bowser Beer in brown bottles for the dogs. They wanted to share with their fellow searchers the concoction. It includes beef or chicken with malt barley, but contains no alcohol, salt or hops.

There were others donations to divvy up as well, including gifts from the Girl Scouts and some pet grooming.

Seth and Brenda Stone of Bothell also are part of the county’s search and rescue dog team. Seth, the unit’s K-9 coordinator, works on the front lines with Sable, their German shepherd-labrador mix. Brenda’s niche is providing support, as she did helping sheriff’s deputies for more than three days on the Darrington side of the mudslide.

What keeps her coming back is the camaraderie.

“This is my extended family,” she said.

Eric Stevick: 425-339-3446; stevick@heraldnet.com.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Customers enter and exit the Costco on Dec. 2, 2022, in Lake Stevens. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Costco stores could be impacted by looming truck driver strike threat

Truck drivers who deliver groceries and produce to Costco warehouses… Continue reading

Two Washington State ferries pass along the route between Mukilteo and Clinton as scuba divers swim near the shore Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ferry system increases ridership by a half million in 2024

Edmonds-Kingston route remains second-busiest route in the system.

Alina Langbehn, 6, center, and Vera A., 6, right, sit on a swing together at Drew Nielsen Neighborhood Park after school on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett council votes to renovate Drew Nielsen Park

Construction on the $345,000 upgrade could start as early as this fall.

Northshore School District bus driver Stewart O’Leary pictured next to his buses shattered drivers side windshield on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025 in Bothell, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
‘Put me in, coach’: Bus driver back at work after struck by metal bar

Stewart O’Leary, a Northshore employee, has received national attention for his composure during a frightening bus trip.

Lynnwood councilor Joshua Binda speaks during a Lynnwood City Council meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Does the Lynnwood Council VP live in Lynnwood? It’s hard to say.

Josh Binda’s residency has been called into question following an eviction and FEC filings listing an Everett address. He insists he lives in Lynnwood.

Robin Cain with 50 of her marathon medals hanging on a display board she made with her father on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Running a marathon is hard. She ran one in every state.

Robin Cain, of Lake Stevens, is one of only a few thousand people to ever achieve the feat.

People line up to grab food at the Everett Recovery Cafe on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Coffee, meals and compassion are free at the Everett Recovery Cafe

The free, membership-based day center offers free coffee and meals and more importantly, camaraderie and recovery support.

The Everett Wastewater Treatment Plant along the Snohomish River on Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett water, sewer rates could jump 43% by 2028

The rate hikes would pay for improvements to the city’s sewer infrastructure.

The bond funded new track and field at Northshore Middle School on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024 in Bothell, Washington. (Courtesy of Northshore School District)
Northshore School District bond improvements underway

The $425 million bond is funding new track and field complexes, playgrounds and phase one of two school replacements.

An American Robin picks a berry from a holly tree on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Calling all birders for the annual Great Backyard Bird Count

The Audubon Society will hold its 28th annual Great Backyard… Continue reading

A view of one of the potential locations of the new Aquasox stadium on Monday, Feb. 26, 2024 in Everett, Washington. The site sits between Hewitt Avenue, Broadway, Pacific Avenue and the railroad. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Initial prep work for AquaSox stadium to start, with $200k price tag

The temporary agreement allows some surveying and design work as the city negotiates contracts with designers and builders.

Aaron Kennedy / The Herald
The Joann Fabric and Crafts store at 7601 Evergreen Way, Everett, is one of three stores in Snohomish County that will close as part of the retailer’s larger plan to shutter more than half of its stores nationwide.
Joann store closure plan includes Everett, Arlington, Lynnwood locations

The retail giant filed a motion in court to close approximately 500 stores in the U.S.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.