K9 Callie

Happy I did some really cool things!

Had I known retirement meant doing what I want, laying in the sun, dozing off wherever, ignoring my handler’s commands, all while smelling wonderful smells… I would have hit the retirement button years ago. Honestly, it’s not much different from while I was working, just a lot fewer ticks 🕷️🕷️

Funny how back when I wore the uniform, the strict grooming standards and uniform regulations were so annoying, and now I miss complaining about it! Photo from the archive (circa 2022).

1 year ago today, I made the difficult decision to step away from the life I knew, the blood and sweat that I dedicated to this country, and the hardest and also most rewarding days that are innate to a life in Search And Rescue.

24 January 2025, I retired from the Air Force. It was a decision I didn’t take lightly, but there was a whole other world out there for me to explore as a civilian. My body was broken, my brain exhausted, but my spirits were high. I thought I knew what I was in for and prepared as best I could, but there’s no warning of how large the chasm would be when you stop doing the thing you love… the thing you identify as. I struggled for a few months, “what’s my mission?… what’s my purpose?” I miss the team, the challenges, and the reward of being a mediator between life and death. It was “ruff”, to say the least.

But soon after I retired, I found a place that feels like home. I took a position as a civilian at the Air National Guard Headquarters. I still get to go into work everyday with my once handler, now chauffeur. I charge around the office and brighten everyone’s day by sometimes accepting the treats they brought me, but always accepting a good game of fetch (as long as they throw the ball right and only if I deem them worthy enough to even drop the ball for).

The retired life has been good!

Retirement; a time where I can rediscover myself and find my passion.

Thanks for the 📸

Another successful Christmas night. Post op pic of Santa Clause with a Carl G, a few of his Special Ops Elf Operatives (redacted), and a nose to sniff out the naughty ones. Nice try and good luck next year!

Dreaming of saving lives in the snow. In the event of an avalanche, the avalanche SAR dog provides one of the best chances of rescue for those caught in the avalanche’s grip… Second only to the victim wearing an avalanche beacon!
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ANNOUNCEMENT: K9 Pits has been released from the AFSPECWAR SAR K9 Program. Although she had taken strongly to all different forms of training and environments, she was nervous, fearful, and unpredictable around unfamiliar individuals outside of her work. The search and rescue training is just one part of the whole job, and she showed signs that she was uncomfortable with what was asked of her. This decision was not easy, but ultimately it comes down to saving lives and with Pits, there were certain behaviors that would have limited that capability. We spent a lot of time working on behavior modification, but in the end we could manage in some situations, but her genetics had a different plan. Pits has been adopted by a family from the unit and is able to live more comfortably. She now gets to enjoy a more consistent lifestyle, around people she knows and trusts, with a family that has already been able to provide her mind a safe and loving home. What we look for in our working dogs is truly the best of the best and as handlers, we need to advocate for our dogs.
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What do you do if you’re out on an adventure and run into this Frost Skeleton Wolf? 💀🐺

Merry Christmas from the USA’s only military search and rescue dogs! Callie and Pits, wishing everyone the happiest of holidays and all the best treats! A reminder to play tug of war with those that don’t always get the chance and to be humble enough to get your tummy rubbed.
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1 Nov 2023 we were called out to an 11 story, abandoned coal mine plant that had collapsed while being salvaged in Eastern KY. Two salvage workers were inside the building at the time of the collapse. Sadly, neither one of them survived. Callie worked efficiently with a perimeter search and punched into the wreckage where she could. The super fine coal dust and particles presented very interesting problems for us to navigate during the search as well. We were humbled by the tireless efforts of the Louisville and Lexington Fire Department’s Heavy Rescue crews who dug, cut, moved, and worked diligently in the search. We appreciate the work done by as well. We always hope for a better outcome but after seeing the work of everyone involved in the search, I know those salvage workers had the best chance they could have had. Our condolences go to those who lost a loved one in the collapse.

K9 Pits (Pitsenbarger) roping from a Huey.
📸: w/ Bowling Green Daily News
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