Meet the Team
They are our canine family members with a day job — and they work plenty of nights, too. The MARK9 search dogs are owned by the handlers who work them and are trained collaboratively by their handlers, team trainers, and outside coaches.
These dogs generally work search and rescue for eight to ten years, and when they retire, they remain with the families they love. Each dog has a personality and charisma all his or her own, with two things in common: all our dogs are people-friendly, and they all love their work.
Service by MARK9 dogs has been awarded by the Oklahoma Veterinary Hall of Fame, the Plano Police Department, Dallas Police Department, and the AKC, among other organizations.
K9 Ash
Trailing
AKC Canine CGC
Ash comes from strong German working bloodlines with an exceptional blend of working and show-line structure. While she is not from extreme high-drive working-only lines, she carries the temperament, intelligence, and solid genetics often sought after in versatile working dogs.
This pedigree reflects generations of carefully bred dogs known for their drive, stability, athleticism, and working capability. Ash is a silly girl that loves a good mud puddle.
Handler: Monique Fosco
K9 Daisy
Area Search
AKC Canine CGC • AWDA Wilderness Area Search Type III
Daisy is a Yellow “Dudley” Labrador Retriever who loves everyone and everything. Like her brother, Augie, she is a rescue and loves all the typical lab things. She never misses an opportunity to run through mud, splash in a puddle, or chase a ball. She is confident, intelligent, and vocal.
Handler: Sarah McClure
K9 Kai
Human Remains Detection
In Training
Kai is a black lab who came from Hay Creek Kennels in Wisconsin, a facility which breeds and raises detection dogs in association with Auburn University's vapor wake dog program. Kai is very energetic and has excellent nerve strength and agility. She works hard and plays hard, throwing the toys at you until you engage with her. She also has a great nose and shows strong focus on work, very seldom being distracted by other things in the environment. I look forward to a long and exciting journey with her in search and recovery!
Handler: Liz Forbes
K9 Menar
Human Remains Detection
AKC Canine CGC • NAPWDA Cadaver
Menar is a black Labrador Retriever who was born at Ground Zero Emergency Training Center in Norman, OK. He is certified in land and shoreline for Human Remains Detection and is working to gain experience in working from a boat. He has wonderful hunt drive and extreme energy, and can work all day but is still a great companion in the house. He loves food and also to retrieve or tug. He has rock-solid nerve strength and works well on rubble or through briars. He is a great partner!
Handler: Liz Forbes
Retired K9 Ryker
Human Remains Detection
AKC Canine CGC • AWDA Human Remains Detection Type IV • NNDDA Human Remains • NSDA Wilderness Cadaver
Ryker is a Dutch Shepard out of a working police dog sire and a personal protection dam. He has an amazing ball drive and super hunt drive. He loves dock diving and agility. When he is working he has extreme focus on the job. He is an amazing partner who never lets me down. I look forward to many years of learning from him.
Handler: Laurie Davis
K9 Aspen
Scent Specific Area Search, Human Remains Detection
AKC Canine CGC • AWDA Human Remains Detection Type IV • AWDA Wilderness Area Search Scent Discriminating Type III
Aspen is a black sable German Shepard who has high drive and loves to work. She loves her job and just wants to please. She's a little shy when she first meets you but is very sweet and friendly. When she isn't training or searching for MARK9, she loves aggravating her 6 packmates, camping, and playing around the house.
Handler: Mike Holmberg
K9 Fern
Trailing
AKC Canine CGC • NSDA Urban Trailing Type III • AWDA Wilderness Trailing Type II
Fern is a Redbone Coonhound and is named for the book "Where the Red Fern Grows". She is an enthusiastic girl that enjoys running around with her farm yard friends. She has never met a stranger and welcomes belly scratches. Fern is loving her job as a trailing dog and hide and seek champ. She will do anything for food and loves to sing the song of her people! We look forward to watching her grow into a wonderful Search and Rescue K9.
Handler: Alyssa Phifer
K9 Lucie
Human Remains Detection
AKC Canine CGC • AWDA Human Remains Detection Type IV
Hello! My name is Lucie I am a Belgian Malinois. I love everything more than you do! I love jumping, running, playing, sleeping, eating etc… I have even earned a few titles in agility.
Sometimes my handler will take me out to "work" but it really is just more running with my sniffer turned on. She thinks it's work, but I just love it! She even rewards me with a toy when I find something! I would do anything to get that toy!
The toy and I have great battles, but I never lose! My handler and I absolutely love working and I make sure to challenge her at all times! If I want the toy, I've got to earn it! I'm so excited to see what the rest of this world has in store for us. Bye for now!
Handler: Christian Hornbeck
K9 Prissy
Area Search
AKC Canine CGC • AWDA Wilderness Area Search Type III • NSDA Area Search II
Prissy is a Black Lab and comes from a long lineage of SAR dogs. She likes to eat and hunt, between those two activities there's not much else that interest her, which makes her a great search dog.
Handler: Zephrin Allen
K9 Augie
Area Search
AKC Canine CGC
Augie is a Black Labrador Retriever who loves to run, search, and play fetch. Like most Labradors, he is strong, fast, and naturally takes to the water (except for baths). Augie was rescued as a puppy and named for Augustus McCrae, the life-loving Lonesome Dove character. He is training for certification in Wilderness Area Search. When not training or playing fetch, he can be found lounging alongside his siblings.
Handler: Taylor McClure
K9 June
Human Remains Detection
In Training
I'm a hardworking Belgian Malinois with a big drive and even bigger heart. As a human remains detection K9, I am determined to help bring answers and closure when it matters most. Whether I am working long hours in tough conditions or riding alongside my handler, I am always ready for the next mission.
Handler: Christian Hornbeck
K9 Mayhem
Trailing
AKC Canine CGC • AWDA Wilderness Trailing Type I
Comrade Mayhem is a black and tan bloodhound. We named him
Mayhem because he was the most active puppy in his litter, and we
brought him home in the midst of Covid. His hobbies include chasing
"his" cat, tearing up his beds, counter-surfing, and eating Sonic Breakfast
burritos (with bacon). He loves scent-work and earned an AKC Tracking
Dog Title before he turned 2 years old. He is just starting out with
Search and Rescue, and he really loves finding people.
Handler: Pandora Galbraith
Retired K9 Kao
Area Search, Human Remains Detection
AKC Canine CGC • AWDA Wilderness Area Search Type III and IV • AWDA Human Remains Detection Type III, IV, and V • NSDA Land Human Remains Detection
Kao comes from Slovakian lineage from a long line of working dogs. Kao's sire is currently a working police K9 in Slovakia and was bred out of the Slovakian national kennel. While working Kao displays extreme drive and focus, and is totally dedicated to finding missing people. When not working he loves to play tug, chase tennis balls, and find new ways to have his tummy rubbed.
Handler: Zephrin Allen