Avalanche Dog Memorial List
Trained avalanche search-and-rescue dogs are as much a part of a ski patrol or SAR team as their human counterparts. This memorial list was created in fall 2021 with approval from the A3 Board of Directors and recognizes dogs who have passed on after serving on ski patrols and SAR teams, as well as their handlers.
A3 welcomes submissions to the Avalanche Dog Memorial List. Please send an email to a3@avalanche.org with the following information: the dog’s name, date of death, breed, handler, organizational affiliations, association memberships (i.e. C-RAD, SARDOC), and a quality photo of the dog (and handler, ideally) that can be cropped into a square.
Zuma
May 28, 2024
Handler: Tanner Franti, Mary Lorch
Akita, Husky, Wolf
Loveland Ski Patrol, Alpine Rescue Team, Clear Creek County Sherrif, C-RAD
Darwin
September 15, 2023
Handler: Kim Haft
Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever
Crystal Mountain Ski Patrol, Cascade Mountain Rescue Dog, BARK Certified, WBR and Swiss School attendee
Etta
June 2, 2023
Handler: Ron Linde
Brittany
Alpental Pro Patrol The Summit at Snoqualmie, Alpental BARK. Other Notables: Swiss Dog School, WBR Dog School x2, Full Certified Avalanche Dog
Elbert
May 27, 2023
Handler: Matt McKee
Wirehaired Pointing Griffon
Utah Department of Transportation
Wasatch Backcountry Rescue
Shaka
April 25, 2023
Handler: Ivan McGurk
Golden Retriever
Palisades Ski Patrol, Nevada County Sheriff's SAR, Placer County Avalanche Canine Team
Sisu
January 23, 2023
Handler: Eeva Latosuo
Border Collie
Alaska Search and Rescue Dogs (ASARD)
Sisu was an operational SAR dog in Alaska from 2009 - 2018. She worked year round in air scenting disciplines of wilderness and avalanche SAR and completed 16 real missions around the state over her tenure.
Henry
Nov 1, 2022
Handler: Chris “Mongo” Reeder
Golden Retriever
Vail
Zeke
July 19, 2022
Handler: Andy VanHouten
Yellow Lab
Park City Resort
Wasatch Backcountry Rescue
Minga
February 20, 2022
Handler: Gabe Garcia
Black Lab
Alta Ski Area, Utah
WBR
Flash
August 19, 2021
Handler: Addie Smith
Aussie Shepard
Served on Keystone Ski Patrol, CRAD Certified 5/2013
Jett
August 08, 2021
Handler: Lloyd Morsett and Keagan Zoellner
Border Collie
Served on Whitefish Mountain Resort, Montana
National Search Dog Alliance
Parley
June 10, 2021
Handler: Sean Hopewell
Yellow Lab
Served on Utah Olympic Park, Wasatch Backcountry Rescue, validated with Canadian Avalanche Rescue Dog Association, schooling with Alpine Rettung Schweiz
Murphy
February, 2021
Handler: Bob Jost
Black Lab
Sun Valley Ski Patrol, Blaine County Search and Sescue, NASAR, and NSDA.
Zoot
April 12, 2021
Airedale Terrier
Handler: Brad Benson
Served on Aspen Ski Patrol
Chaco
January 2021
Chocolate Lab
Handler: Bill Williamson
Served on Schweitzer Ski Patrol
Baloo
December 21, 2020
Handler: Janie Merickel Hodge
Labrador Retriever
Served on Copper Mountain Ski Patrol, Summit County Avalanche Deployment
Member of SARDOC, Summit County Rescue Group, C-RAD, Tri-State K9, NW K9 Search and Recovery
Jasmine
December 21, 2020
Golden Retriever
Handlers: Geoff & Marcy Larson
Served on SEADOGS
Recco
September 24, 2020
Golden Retriever
Handler: John and Andrea Reller
Served on SARDOC, Copper Mountain Ski Patrol, Summit County Rescue Group
Worthy’s Lady Taiya
September 22, 2020
German Shepherd
Handler: Vikki Gross
Served in Alaska
Member of NSDA
Josie
September 9, 2020
Husky/Heeler
Handler: Jimmy Terra
Sun Valley Ski Patrol, NSDA, Blaine County Search and Rescue
Murdock
September 3, 2020
Handler: Brett Jeppesen
Yellow lab
Canyons Resort and Park City Mountain, Utah
WBR
Gunny
July 3, 2020
Golden Retriever
Handler: Joe Jennings
Served on Powder Mountain Ski Patrol, Great Basin K9 S&R
Member of Great Basin K9 S&R, NASAR, Tri-State K9 S&R Wilderness live find, Cadaver search, Avalanche
June (Rausch)
September 15, 2019
Blue Heeler
Handler: Steve Rausch
Served on Aspen Ski Patrol
WBR Avalanche Dog School Alta UT 2015, Careflight Heli Cert 2013–14
Augustina "Gus"
August 9, 2019
Australian Shepherd
Handler: Dan Goddard
Served on Aspen Highland Ski Patrol
Member of Aspen Ski Company Avalanche Dogs, CRAD
Caleb
December 10, 2018
Black Lab
Handler: Susan "Mouse" Carollo
Served on Snowmass Ski Patrol
Member of CRAD, WBR attendee
Cirrus
October 2, 2018
Handler: Andrew Longstreth
German Shepherd
Crystal Mountain Ski Patrol, BARK Certified, WBR attendee, successful find on Mt. Rainier
Panzer
May 3, 2018
German Shepherd
Handler: Liam Higgins
Served on SEADOGS, Avalanche/Wilderness Airscent, HRD
Member of K9 Avalanche Resources–NSDA, Certified in Air scent Type II = SARDUS
Murphy
April 6, 2018
Handler: Eric Seelenfreund
Golden Retriever
Squaw/Palisades Ski Patrol, Placer County Avalanche Canine Team, YODOGS
Sierra
January 7, 2018
Handler: Ben (Allison) Wright
Labrador Retriever
Crystal Mountain Ski Patrol, BARK Certified, WBR attendee, also served with Clark Fork/Bitterroot Search Dogs
Edmund
October, 2017
Handler: Brian Pringle
Shepard Husky Mix
Served on Wolf Creek Ski Patrol, CRAD
King
August 5, 2016
Golden Retriever
Handler: Sean Macedonio
Served on CARDA, Mammoth Mountain Ski Area
Zuma
July, 2016
Handler: Eric Deitemeyer
Yellow Lab
Served on Wolf Creek Ski Patrol, CRAD
Jake
June 25, 2016
Labrador
Handler: Stacie Burkhardt
Served on Washington & Alaska, King County SAR Dogs, MAT & SARK9 Alaska
Certified in Land, Water, Avalanche
Teton
January 20, 2016
Border Collie
Handler: Lloyd Morsett
Served on Keystone Ski Patrol
Member of CRAD
Tane
October 2015
Golden Retriever
Served on Arapahoe Basin Ski Patrol, CRAD
Huka
September 17, 2014
Handler: Heather Tiry
Shepard / Black Lab mix
Served on Tamarack Ski Patrol
Lila
May 31, 2014
Handler: Sue Anderson
Black Lab
Served on Deer Valley Resort, WBR Certified for 14 years
Dextor
January 3, 2014
Golden Retriever
Handler: Mike Wallace
Served on Loveland Ski Patrol, CRAD 2005–2014
Sage
December 26, 2013
Cattle Dog/Lab Mix
Handler: Stacie Burkhardt
Served on Washington & Alaska, King County SAR Dogs, MAT & SARK9 Alaska
Member of NSDA, certified in Airscent, Land, Water Cadaver, Avalanche, Article/Evidence cert
Cassidy (Dewey)
November 7, 2011
Standard Poodle
Handler: Carla Wheeler
Served on Aspen Ski Patrol, Aspen Mountain Rescue, Trailing Air Scent, Avalanche, Water SAR, HRD (Cadaver)
Wookie
Jan 16, 2011
Handler: Jake Hutchinson, Josh Hutchinson, Brian Roust
GSD
Canyons Professional Ski Patrol
Wasatch Backcountry Rescue
Angel
September 25, 2008
Handler: Cathy Fraser
Chow-Shepherd Mix
Served on Alpine Rescue Team at Berthoud Pass, Breckenridge and Loveland Ski Patrols, SARDOC
Avy
July 15, 2004
Wolf/Siberian Husky
Handler: Bruce Smith
Served on Sun Valley Ski Patrol, Rocky Mountain Rescue Dogs, Galena Backcountry Ski Patrol, Blane County SAR
Member of Avalanche & Urban Disaster Team
Casey Jones (Honey)
August 8, 2002
German Shepherd
Handler: Carla Wheeler
Served on Aspen Mountain Rescue, Air Scent Wilderness and Avalanche
Tasha
May 2002
Black Lab
Handler: Susan Purvis
Served on Crested Butte Mountain Rescue
Member of SRDC, CRAD, certified in Avalanche, Water and Wilderness SRDC
Snowden
August 20, 2001
Handler: Brad Benson
Airedale Terrier
Aspen Mountain Ski Patrol, SARDOC certified
Blumli
Fall 1998
Australian Shepherd Mix
Handler: Nancy Pfeiffer
Served with Alaska S&R dogs/Sea Dogs in Juneau and at Hatcher Pass Ski Area
Katie
January 31, 1994
Lab Retriever mix
Handler: Bill Tai
Served with Alaska SAR Dogs and was the first dog to be certified in the state for avalanche, wilderness, and disaster search
Bridget
February 14, 1984
German Shepherd
Handler: Roberta Huber
Served with WOOF. Bridget made the first live rescue of an avalanche victim in North America at Alpine Meadows after the 1982 avalanche. Many credit Roberta and Bridget with helping to legitimize canine search and rescue in the U.S. Roberta was a member of Wilderness Finders, formed in 1975 to use dogs to search for people missing in avalanches.
Mariah
September 1983
German Shepherd
Handler: Jim Plehav
Served on Alpine Meadows Ski Patrol, in training for avalanche rescue with Don and Roberta of WOOF
Hasty
Golden Retriever
Handler: Patti Burnett
Served on SARDOC