Status: Active

Current Certifications: First Aid/CPR/AED

Canine Partner: Ace

MBSD Member Since: 2014

Bio:

Prior to joining MBSD, Kate had trained Urban Disaster search dogs, as well as their handlers, towards FEMA certification. She is currently in training with her dog Ace for certification in C1 Human Remains Detection (HRD). 

Kate is a second generation professional dog trainer and has competed in AKC performance and conformation events since the age of five. She currently trains hunting, obedience, and behavior modification full-time and manages Sundowners Kennels (family owned and operated) in Gilroy, CA. 

Certification Status: Certified

Discipline: C1 Human Remains Detection (HRD)

Breed: Black Labrador

DOB: 2016

Bio:

Ace began his search and rescue training in Wilderness Area before making the switch to C1 HRD as it became clear the discipline was a better fit. He and Kate are working towards their first certification in 2020!

When he's not training with MBSD, Ace participates in Rally and has earned his Rally Advanced title. 

Status: Active; President, Board of Directors

Current Certifications: NASAR SARTech III; First Aid/CPR/AED

Canine Partner: Zephyr

MBSD Member Since: 2016

Bio:

Ashley joined MBSD with her Pitbull mix dog Popeye. The team had previously been members of Mendocino County Search and Rescue and were certified as both a Wilderness Area Live Find and C1 Human Remains Detection (HRD) team. Upon joining MBSD they certified in Wilderness Area Live Find and participated in several searches across California.  Popeye retired from a 6 year long career in SAR in early 2020, and now lives a life of luxury and cuddles with Ashley.

Now, Ashley is looking forward to working with her puppy, Zephyr, in Wilderness Area training.

Ashley's search and rescue (SAR) career began with Mendocino County Search and Rescue when she had her lab mix, Ella, back in 2012. She began training Popeye in 2014, upon making the decision to retire Ella from SAR training. 

Ashley is a Registered Professional Forester in California. She has spent countless hours and days navigating through the woods alone for her profession (8+ years). She found that her background knowledge in land navigation has aided her tremendously in her SAR career. She is also currently working as a dog trainer in Santa Cruz, and outside of MBSD she enjoys hiking with her dogs and writing. 

Certification Status: In Training

Discipline: Wilderness Area Live Find

Breed: Black Labrador  

DOB: May, 2020

Bio:

Zephyr was born on May 8, 2020.  He started training with MBSD in July 2020.  He is a happy, busy, and affectionate boy.  His favorite trick is “speak,” and his favorite game is tug.  He often announces his presence at a new location, just in case you don’t realize he is there.  He loves people and dogs and is happy to make friends with anybody.  If he ever gets to meet you, don’t be surprised when he greets you with a few choice words, “Woof, woof!”

He is an enthusiastic independent searcher and we are pleased with his progression in training so far.  Zephyr has high hopes of certifying in Wilderness Area search in early 2022.

When Zephyr is not searching he enjoys playing with his older brother, Popeye, and helping Ashley teach her clients to train their dogs by exposing the human error that happens at all levels of training.

Bio Coming Soon

Status: Active; Treasurer, Board of Directors

Current Certifications:

Canine Partner:  N/A

MBSD Member Since: 2018

Bio:

Photo and Bio Coming Soon

Certification Status: In Training

Disciplines: C1 Human Remains Detection (HRD)

Breed:  

DOB: 2023

Bio:

Status: Active; Secretary, Board of Directors

Current Certifications: NASAR SARTech III; First Aid/CPR/AED

Canine Partner: 

MBSD Member Since: 2012

Bio:

Gabby joined MBSD without a dog of her own and has assisted other MBSD teams with their training since 2012.  In 2021, she began training her own dog, Walter, for C1 Human Remains Detection (HRD). While she and Walter are in training together towards initial certification, Gabby is also available as Ground Support for searches.

Prior to joining MBSD, Gabby had been an active volunteer with a variety of organizations, including an equine rescue in El Dorado Hills. Her professional background is in operations and people management, and she is currently working as an IT project manager.

Outside of MBSD, Gabby enjoys traveling, hiking, and indoor rock climbing.  

Certification Status: In Training

Discipline: C1 Human Remains Detection (HRD)

Breed: Kooikerhondje

DOB: June, 2021

Bio:  

Walter is in training for HRD. He is a very happy, energetic young dog who loves to learn. 

When not training for HRD, Walter has also  done some initial training for Rally, enjoys travelling and water activities, such as kayaking,  loves playing fetch, going on walks with friends, and playing with his sister (and fellow MBSD teammate), Mia.

Status: Active;

Current Certifications: Wilderness Medicine; ACLS

Canine Partner: Mia

MBSD Member Since: October, 2011

Bio:

Susanne Martin, MD trained and certified her first Dutch Decoy Dog in Wilderness SAR and disaster SAR in Munich, Germany, in 2001. They participated as a mission-ready team for years in local searches. She recently retired her second wonderful partner, Kooikerhondje Amica. Since Amica's initial certification at the age of 3 in Wilderness Area, she and Susanne went on to pass multiple additional re-certification tests and also certify in C2. Currently, Susanne is training with her Kooikerhondje Mia in C1.

Susanne is a Board Certified Internal Medicine physician and completed her fellowship in Adolescent Medicine at Stanford University. She has also undergone further training in Wilderness Medicine.

Susanne enjoys the outdoors and traveling with her Kooikers. She is also active with the Nederlanse Kooikerhondje breed -  she has been involved in their breeding since 2012  and is an AKC Breeder of Merit. 

Certification Status: In Training

Disciplines: C1 Human Remains Detection (HRD)

Breed: Kooikerhondje

DOB: June, 2021

Bio: 

Mia was born and raised at Susanne's house in the 2021 litter that was purposefully bred for drive and workability. Mia has been a curious, independent little girl from the start. She loves to retrieve balls, tug, and would like to be busy all day. 

She has started training in HRD from the get-go and is also participating in rally, obedience, and conformation classes to expand her horizon and skills. 

Her energy, interest in other dogs and people, and enthusiasm seem to make her a great SAR candidate. 

During downtime, she loves to cuddle and snuggle, and she loves to have playdates with her brother, Walter.

Status: Active

Current Certifications: First Aid/CPR/AED

Canine Partner: Traeger

MBSD Member Since: 2014

Bio:

Johnny Subia is a retired professional firefighter. He became a canine handler in 2006 when he was awarded an Urban Search and Rescue canine named Lola from the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation. They became a FEMA certified team in 2008. He retired Lola in 2014. 

After deciding to transition to Wilderness Area Search and Rescue, Johnny joined MBSD and got Blū in 2014.  With the help of Sundowners Kennels trainer and fellow MBSD team member Kate Davern, he went on to certify with Blū in C1 HRD in 2018.

Johnny officially became a member of MBSD in 2015. 

Certification Status: Active

Discipline: Wilderness Area Live Find

Breed: Golden Retriever 

DOB: September, 2020

Bio:  

Traeger comes from Castle AU Retrievers. The theme of his litter was Swing Time and his registered name is Castle Au’s Smoke Gets In Your Eyes. Traeger had 4 litter mates at birth and all are very active canines. Traeger is very biddable and has all the classic characteristics of a working Golden. He loves to work and loves to play!

Photo and Bio Coming Soon

Status: Active

Current Certifications: NASAR SARTech III; First Aid/CPR/AED

Canine Partner: N/A

MBSD Apprentice Member Since: 2021

Bio: 

Tessa Carter joined MBSD in 2021 without a dog of her own and is currently assisting other MBSD teams with their training while training herself to be Ground Support for searches. 

While planning to get a dog for SAR in the future, Tessa enjoys work as a dog trainer in Morgan Hill helping others train their dogs for therapy work and more, as well as a certified AKC evaluator. Alongside this, she is going to college at San Jose State University in the Animation/Illustration department.

Status:  Active; Apprentice

Current Certifications: NASAR SARTech III; First Aid/CPR/AED

Canine Partner: Shae

MBSD Member Since: 2022

Bio:

Faith joined MBSD in 2022. In early 2023, she began training her own dog, Shae, for C1 Human Remains Detection (HRD). Faith and Shae are in training together towards initial certification. 

Faith is very involved in the community as the Chair of the Employee Activity Association at Montage Health, and as a member of the Monterey Bay Quilt Guild. She has been in health care at Montage Health for the last 18 years, currently working in Digital Health, but has previously worked in Radiology, the Emergency Department, Project Management, and in operational roles throughout her organization.

Outside of MBSD and work, Faith enjoys spending time with her family, scuba diving, hiking, dog training, foraging, golfing, quilting, horse riding, mountain biking, and travelling.

Certification Status: In Training

Discipline: C1 Human Remains Detection (HRD)

Breed: Belgian/German/Dutch Shepherd Mix

DOB: May, 2021

Bio:  

Shae is in training in HRD. She is a very observant, high drive dog who loves to work. When not in training for HRD, Shae likes to do obedience work, go to the beach, swim, and play. Mountain biking and hiking with her family are some of her favorite pastimes.

Photo and Bio Coming Soon

Status: Active; Apprentice

Current Certifications:

Canine Partner: N/A

MBSD Apprentice Member Since: 2023

Bio:

Status: Inactive

Current Certifications:

Canine Partner:  N/A

MBSD Member Since: 

Bio: ~2004

Chris has been a longtime member of Monterey Bay Search Dogs and was previously certified in Wilderness Area with his Yellow Labrador, Kai. Chris has extensive search and rescue experience and has volunteered his time to the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office Search and Rescue team, including their Technical Rescue Team, and to the Monterey County Sheriff's Office Search and Rescue team. Chris has held certifications in NASAR SARTECH II and as a  Rope Rescue Technician II.

Chris's interest include emergency and wilderness medicine (he's held certification previously as a Wilderness EMT) and water rescue (he has been a PADI Advanced Open Water diver and certified in Advanced Swiftwater Rescue). 

Photo and Bio Coming Soon

Status: Inactive

Current Certifications:

Canine Partner: Shimmy

MBSD Apprentice Member Since: 2021

Bio:

Photo and Bio Coming Soon

Certification Status: Inactive

Discipline: 

Breed: Black Labrador 

DOB: 2021

Bio:

Status: Permanently Inactive as of 2021

Current Certifications: C1 Human Remains Detection (HRD); Wilderness Air Scent (Jet), NASAR SARTech III; NASAR "Managing Lost Person Incident"; WMI/NOLS; SCUBA

Canine Partners: Typhoon and Jet 

MBSD Member Since: 2019

Bio:

Since 2009, Kristin has been active in K-9 search and rescue throughout the state of California responding via CalOES. First with CARDA, then Santa Cruz County Sheriff's SAR (2013) and Yosemite/Sequoia/Kings Canyon National Parks SAR (2015).

Certification Status:  Expired cert

Discipline: C1 Human Remains Detection (HRD)

Breed: Black Labrador

DOB: 

Bio:

Typhoon trained on C1 HRD from the start and will be specialized in HRD only for his career. Currently, Kristin and Typhoon are working to add water HRD detection to his certification. Typhoon is also certified for Type 1 searches.

Status: Permanently Inactive

Current Certifications: NASAR SARTech II; First Aid/CPR/AED

Canine Partner: Hanna

MBSD Member: 2017-2020

Bio:

Lew and his Wilderness Area search dog Hanna were, until recently, members of the San Luis Obispo County SAR team and members of CARDA (a sister organization to MBSD) from 2012 until 2017.  Lew and Hanna have searched in support of mutual aid as far north as Butte county and east to Alpine county in the Sierras, as well as many local SLO county searches.  Lew is a retired reserve US Army Infantry and Special Operations officer as well as a retired defense contractor.   He has been a participant and instructor in six annual Locating the Dead K-9 training exercises. He teaches survival and co-taught land navigation with a GPS, map, and compass.

Since moving to Monterey in November of 2017, Lew has joined the Monterey County Sheriff’s SAR team and, along with Hanna, Monterey Bay Search Dogs.  Lew is also a member of the National Association of Search and Rescue (NASAR) and is NASAR SARTECH II certified.   He has completed the 40 hour Direction and Control course taught by OES and maintains his Emergency Medical Response and AED/CPR certifications.

Hanna is a smooth-coated Collie. Now six (2018), she has trained since about four months old as a Wilderness Area search dog. When certified, she had searched throughout the state of California. Currently, Hanna's in the process of re-certifying with Monterey Bay Search Dogs with her handler, Lew. Not a fan of riding in cars and trucks, her favorite modes of transportation are in Lew's motorcycle sidecar and CHP and National Guard Search and Rescue helicopters!  

Steve has been a member of Monterey Bay Search Dogs since 2002. He and his K9 partner Daisy (retired) are a FEMA certified disaster Search and Rescue team and member of California Task Force 3 (CATF3); they deployed with the Task Force to Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Hurricane Ernesto in 2006, and most recently, to Hurricane Gustav in 2008. Steve also volunteers for the Red Cross as a member of their Disaster Action Team and as an Emergency Response Vehicle Driver. He deployed with the Red Cross to Hurricane Dean and the San Diego fires, both in 2007.

Steve loves being outdoors, and enjoys Ocean Kayaking, rock & ice climbing, mountain biking, long distance running, hiking and swimming, and Yoga. He is a nationally Registered EMT-B and an Advanced SCUBA Diver.

Daisy is a yellow Labrador and has been trained in the disaster and wilderness search and rescue disciplines. She and her handler, Steve, have worked many search cases in their career together here in California, and have even deployed with FEMA to hurricanes Katrina, Ernesto, and Gustav. Daisy steals the hearts of everyone she meets thanks to her adorable face and equally adorable personality. She is rather famous for her “embarrassed” trick, where she rolls over and hides her face in her paws! Daisy has recently retired at the end of 2015 and is enjoying a well-deserved break after a long, rewarding career.

Rest in Peace, Daisy

2002-2016

Miranda and her canine partner Marcy (retired) are certified in Human Remains Detection and volunteer for the Monterey County Sheriff's Office Search and Rescue Team.

Miranda got involved in SAR in 2005 when training and certifying her first dog, Izzy (retired), in Wilderness Area Search. Over the years her training has included technical rope rescue, swift water, helicopter safety, and first responder.

Miranda's interests include back country backpacking, running, and training her dogs.

Marcy, a Border Collie, retired many years as a certified Human Remains Detection (HRD) dog at the end of 2017. Few dogs have the intense focus and drive that Marcy possesses when on the job, and she and her handler Miranda have worked many successful searches and even had the recent opportunity, thanks to her affiliation with CSST, to travel to search for the remains of Amelia Earhart. Marcy and Miranda were also affiliated with the Monterey County Sheriff's Search and Rescue team. Marcy is famous for her award-winning “smile” and enjoys dock-diving for tennis balls and playing with her dog/cat/tortoise/pig friends in her spare time!

Jeannie is a Nurse and loves working in Emergency Medicine and Labor and Delivery. She has been with Big Sur Fire for over 15 years and is the Medical Captain for her Department. She also volunteers for the Monterey County Sheriffs Search and Rescue team. She is certified in cliff rescue, swift water rescue, firefighting, and hazmat. She is a practicing EMT, CPR instructor, and teaches an EMT class at Monterey Peninsula College.

Jeannie lives on a ranch in Big Sur with her family, where she enjoys hiking, gardening, bee keeping, and taking care of the many animals on the ranch. When away from the ranch she enjoys traveling, scuba diving with her kids, and long quiet walks on the beach with her k9 partner, Shadow.

Shadow, a German Shepherd, was in training for Human Remains Detection (HRD) with his handler, Jeannie. He is a big guy, young at heart, and has lots of energy to spare! He never seems to be having a bad day. 

Rest In Peace, Shadow

-6/2020

Certification Status: Retired 2023

Disciplines: Type 2 Wilderness Area Live-Find; C2 SAR 

Breed: Kooikerhondje

DOB: July, 2011

Bio:

Amica has been certified in Wilderness Area since the age of 3, and has deployed on many searches with her handler, Susanne, throughout the state of California.  She has held additional certification in C2.

Outside of search and rescue, Amica frequently hikes with Susanne around the Bay Area and participates in local Kooiker get-togethers.