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A Dog's Devotion: True Adventures of a K9 Search and Rescue Team
In late March of 2014, death descended upon the community of Oso, Washington in the form of a massive landslide. Ten million cubic yards of dirt and mud crashed through homes, sweeping a 20-foot-high wall of debris before it and scouring the valley floor. In the cold rain of that morning, an entire community disappeared in a sea of mud. In the desperate hours that followed, rescue crews were able to pull only eight survivors out of the wrecked landscape. And then all became quiet, with the stunned realization that many more people were missing, but none were still living.
This is the moment when the story of A Dog's Devotion begins. The emergency call from Oso went out, and was answered by K9 Search and Rescue (SAR) teams from across the Pacific Northwest. Suzanne, along with her 4-year-old Labrador Retriever, Keb, and her teammate Guy, was one of the SAR teams to respond to this disaster. In this book, readers immediately find themselves on the ground in the cold mud of the Oso Landslide Disaster on the desperate search for the remains of over forty lost souls. In subsequent chapters, readers will accompany Suzanne, Guy, and Keb as they are inserted by helicopter to search high snowfields on Mount Rainier, or as they traverse steep, forested slopes searching for the clandestine grave of murder victims. They'll join K9 Keb, as her keen nose leads to human remains in the forests of Washington State and as far away as the woods of Scandinavia.
Keb's story is of a dedicated K9 who can distinguish the scent of the dead from the scent of the living, and who can detect buried bones and even corpses underwater. Readers will follow this intrepid K9 and her teammates as they face the challenges of changeable weather, deep northwest forests, high mountain slopes, and menacing coyotes to find dead bodies, missing hikers, and even the bones of murder victims from long ago. Among their finding multiple victims buried by the 2014 Oso Landslide, solving the mysterious disappearance of women in wealthy suburbs, and finding human bones thought to be forever lost to time. It's their story about evolving as search and rescue volunteers while overcoming harsh conditions, inner demons, a rust-bound bureaucracy, and back-stabbing teammates. While internal conflicts threaten their larger K9 team, Keb's training, loyalty, and perseverance inspire them, and help them find the resolve to carry on their service to the community.
This is the moment when the story of A Dog's Devotion begins. The emergency call from Oso went out, and was answered by K9 Search and Rescue (SAR) teams from across the Pacific Northwest. Suzanne, along with her 4-year-old Labrador Retriever, Keb, and her teammate Guy, was one of the SAR teams to respond to this disaster. In this book, readers immediately find themselves on the ground in the cold mud of the Oso Landslide Disaster on the desperate search for the remains of over forty lost souls. In subsequent chapters, readers will accompany Suzanne, Guy, and Keb as they are inserted by helicopter to search high snowfields on Mount Rainier, or as they traverse steep, forested slopes searching for the clandestine grave of murder victims. They'll join K9 Keb, as her keen nose leads to human remains in the forests of Washington State and as far away as the woods of Scandinavia.
Keb's story is of a dedicated K9 who can distinguish the scent of the dead from the scent of the living, and who can detect buried bones and even corpses underwater. Readers will follow this intrepid K9 and her teammates as they face the challenges of changeable weather, deep northwest forests, high mountain slopes, and menacing coyotes to find dead bodies, missing hikers, and even the bones of murder victims from long ago. Among their finding multiple victims buried by the 2014 Oso Landslide, solving the mysterious disappearance of women in wealthy suburbs, and finding human bones thought to be forever lost to time. It's their story about evolving as search and rescue volunteers while overcoming harsh conditions, inner demons, a rust-bound bureaucracy, and back-stabbing teammates. While internal conflicts threaten their larger K9 team, Keb's training, loyalty, and perseverance inspire them, and help them find the resolve to carry on their service to the community.
300 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 1, 2022
93 people are currently reading
180 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
August 11, 2022
This is a great inside look at the Search & Rescue groups and what it takes to dedicate your life to it. The book tells of different searches that Suzanne, her dog Keb, and her good friend and search support partner Guy volunteered on. The Oso landslide was harrowing to read about, with so many lost. It shows the variables between different types of searches and how wound up the searchers can get on the scene. Such an interesting read.
May 8, 2023
(Updated review) Good book. I like the topic of search and rescue for the living or the dead. Sometimes it is a lot of effort and it doesn't end well, or doesn't even end if they can't find who they are searching for. The effort is heroic though. Sometimes they don't find the person and are left with...
'Mystery is the most powerful demon we face. What happened? We don’t know. What decisions did she make? We don’t know. What route did she take? We don’t know. Where is she now? We don’t know.'
The organization that goes with Search and Rescue with dogs has gotten a lot more sophisticated and regimented. Those details are good in bad, good to understand them, bad in that some of it, or too much of it bogs the exciting part down, which is the mystery to find the lost. The details are good, especially to recognize all that go into a search besides the dog and handler:
'Of those involved in the months-long Oso Disaster Search, I often think of the many that we did not see. We didn’t see the civilian volunteers who built the urgently needed bypass road on the south side of the slide. We didn’t see the FEMA staff who set up tents and provided incident command logistics. We didn’t see the community members who cooked and emptied their shelves to deliver shovels, gloves, and flashlights to the Darrington and Oso fire stations. We didn’t see the medical examiner’s staff who worked so hard to identify victims. We didn’t see the helicopter support crews who provided gas, service, and maintenance to keep them flying. We didn’t see the girl scout troop who prepared and delivered baskets of treats and toys for the dogs.'
There is also some mention about internal politics that I have seen in other books on SAR, but fortunately not too much.
'“Political resistance” is a phrase encompassing two concepts that are unfortunately common in the K9 world: “My dog is better than your dog,” and “My K9 training method is the only training method in the known universe that works.” If these concepts seem childish to you, well, you’re not alone.'
I always enjoy the passages that talk of training.
'“Lassie! Go find Timmy!” Many people think search dogs are motivated by a heart-warming, tear-inspired desire to save lost humans. That is not quite true. Most search dogs are motivated by a desire to play with their Most Favorite Toy in the World, the magic toy that only appears after they have led their handler to a lost person. This is the Search Game taught to search dogs throughout the world and responsible for saving hundreds of lives every year. While search dogs are always happy to find a new human (and practice what some of our volunteer hiders call the Rescue Face Lick), most are driven by play the Search Game for the Most Favorite Toy in the World.'
'Runaways are the foundation for what air scent dogs do – it’s a chain of behavior we start with puppies from day one. In short, the handler holds the dog while another person runs away and hides a short distance away. The dog is released with a “go find” command, locates the subject, returns to the handler, and does a trained final response (TFR) such as a bark, jump, or tug to communicate that he has found a subject. “Show me!” shouts the handler, who then sprints after the dog, who has already whirled and is now dashing madly back to the lost person. Upon arrival, the dog’s favorite toy magically appears, a big party ensues, and the handler and training subject yip and yell to excite and reward the K9.'
'Over time, I came to realize that proofing your dog to not to alert on any odor, animal remains, or bones that are nonhuman is essential. What should I proof my dog on? Live animals, dead animals, animal bones, dead fish, people, garbage, glass jars, gloves, plastic, fresh food, rotten food, excrement, and the list goes on.'
In terms of what books to recommend, I would recommend 'A Dog's Devotion', but my favorite book on this topic is 'So That Others May Live: Caroline Hebard & Her Search-And-Rescue Dogs' by Hank Whittemore. Hank's book was about a time when Search and Rescue was new and maybe from a time when more info could be gained or disclosed. My second recommendation I think on par with this one would be 'What the Dog Knows: The Science and Wonder of Working Dogs' by Cat Warren. Each individual rescue situation is unique and interesting so I would recommend them all.
I marked a fair amount of excepts to pull out of A Dog's devotion which I will post to the book, some that made my laugh, like the next two quotes:
'I take out my Professional K9 Scent Detection Device (a jar of soap bubbles from Toys R Us) and determine what direction the wind is coming from by watching where my bubbles go.'
For her trained response, I naively let Keb pick a behavior that seemed to come naturally for her: a “jump alert.” To my enduring dismay, this evolved into a full-on body slam, as Keb started her jump five feet from me and would impact my body as a small furry missile.' (she had to go to a doctor's appointment and the bruises made the doctor concerned she was a victim of spousal abuse or something.)
And some parts made me cry, like this story that was part of her pondering if dogs understand death:
'I vividly remember the intense coaxing it took me and my first search dog, Bosse, to get a little dog named Shotgun to leave his owner who had died falling off a cliff in a remote part of the Cascade mountains. Shotgun had been sitting for days by his dead master in the snow. Starved and exceedingly cold, he refused to leave his owner until the presence of another dog finally persuaded him to return with us, and to a tearful reunion with the victim’s wife. For her, Shotgun was the last bit of living connection with her husband, and I remember her grateful tears that the little dog had been rescued.'
So in summary, a great book. Search and Rescue books with dogs are one of my favorite categories. Those that dedicate their time and money to volunteer are hero's and should be celebrated. Hope you get a chance to read this book.
'Mystery is the most powerful demon we face. What happened? We don’t know. What decisions did she make? We don’t know. What route did she take? We don’t know. Where is she now? We don’t know.'
The organization that goes with Search and Rescue with dogs has gotten a lot more sophisticated and regimented. Those details are good in bad, good to understand them, bad in that some of it, or too much of it bogs the exciting part down, which is the mystery to find the lost. The details are good, especially to recognize all that go into a search besides the dog and handler:
'Of those involved in the months-long Oso Disaster Search, I often think of the many that we did not see. We didn’t see the civilian volunteers who built the urgently needed bypass road on the south side of the slide. We didn’t see the FEMA staff who set up tents and provided incident command logistics. We didn’t see the community members who cooked and emptied their shelves to deliver shovels, gloves, and flashlights to the Darrington and Oso fire stations. We didn’t see the medical examiner’s staff who worked so hard to identify victims. We didn’t see the helicopter support crews who provided gas, service, and maintenance to keep them flying. We didn’t see the girl scout troop who prepared and delivered baskets of treats and toys for the dogs.'
There is also some mention about internal politics that I have seen in other books on SAR, but fortunately not too much.
'“Political resistance” is a phrase encompassing two concepts that are unfortunately common in the K9 world: “My dog is better than your dog,” and “My K9 training method is the only training method in the known universe that works.” If these concepts seem childish to you, well, you’re not alone.'
I always enjoy the passages that talk of training.
'“Lassie! Go find Timmy!” Many people think search dogs are motivated by a heart-warming, tear-inspired desire to save lost humans. That is not quite true. Most search dogs are motivated by a desire to play with their Most Favorite Toy in the World, the magic toy that only appears after they have led their handler to a lost person. This is the Search Game taught to search dogs throughout the world and responsible for saving hundreds of lives every year. While search dogs are always happy to find a new human (and practice what some of our volunteer hiders call the Rescue Face Lick), most are driven by play the Search Game for the Most Favorite Toy in the World.'
'Runaways are the foundation for what air scent dogs do – it’s a chain of behavior we start with puppies from day one. In short, the handler holds the dog while another person runs away and hides a short distance away. The dog is released with a “go find” command, locates the subject, returns to the handler, and does a trained final response (TFR) such as a bark, jump, or tug to communicate that he has found a subject. “Show me!” shouts the handler, who then sprints after the dog, who has already whirled and is now dashing madly back to the lost person. Upon arrival, the dog’s favorite toy magically appears, a big party ensues, and the handler and training subject yip and yell to excite and reward the K9.'
'Over time, I came to realize that proofing your dog to not to alert on any odor, animal remains, or bones that are nonhuman is essential. What should I proof my dog on? Live animals, dead animals, animal bones, dead fish, people, garbage, glass jars, gloves, plastic, fresh food, rotten food, excrement, and the list goes on.'
In terms of what books to recommend, I would recommend 'A Dog's Devotion', but my favorite book on this topic is 'So That Others May Live: Caroline Hebard & Her Search-And-Rescue Dogs' by Hank Whittemore. Hank's book was about a time when Search and Rescue was new and maybe from a time when more info could be gained or disclosed. My second recommendation I think on par with this one would be 'What the Dog Knows: The Science and Wonder of Working Dogs' by Cat Warren. Each individual rescue situation is unique and interesting so I would recommend them all.
I marked a fair amount of excepts to pull out of A Dog's devotion which I will post to the book, some that made my laugh, like the next two quotes:
'I take out my Professional K9 Scent Detection Device (a jar of soap bubbles from Toys R Us) and determine what direction the wind is coming from by watching where my bubbles go.'
For her trained response, I naively let Keb pick a behavior that seemed to come naturally for her: a “jump alert.” To my enduring dismay, this evolved into a full-on body slam, as Keb started her jump five feet from me and would impact my body as a small furry missile.' (she had to go to a doctor's appointment and the bruises made the doctor concerned she was a victim of spousal abuse or something.)
And some parts made me cry, like this story that was part of her pondering if dogs understand death:
'I vividly remember the intense coaxing it took me and my first search dog, Bosse, to get a little dog named Shotgun to leave his owner who had died falling off a cliff in a remote part of the Cascade mountains. Shotgun had been sitting for days by his dead master in the snow. Starved and exceedingly cold, he refused to leave his owner until the presence of another dog finally persuaded him to return with us, and to a tearful reunion with the victim’s wife. For her, Shotgun was the last bit of living connection with her husband, and I remember her grateful tears that the little dog had been rescued.'
So in summary, a great book. Search and Rescue books with dogs are one of my favorite categories. Those that dedicate their time and money to volunteer are hero's and should be celebrated. Hope you get a chance to read this book.
July 30, 2025
Suzanne and her dog Keb do search and rescue in Washington state. I learned that there are different kinds of search dogs. There are some trained to alert on human remains. Air scent dogs “find airborne particles carrying the scent of humans,” searching large areas from 50-100 acres, while trailing dogs follow a scent from, for example, a piece of the missing person’s clothing. Suzanne takes us through her and her S&R dog Keb’s grueling assignments, such as looking for survivors of a landslide, or searches for murder victims and missing hikers. The amazing thing is that these S&R teams are volunteers; no one is paid for the time and effort they put in for searches and training. Unfortunately, some of the teams have a lot of drama, as people who think they have the best dogs or the best training ideas clash with others--very disappointing for those who just want to help, and not be drawn into politics and power struggles. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to review this ARC.
ETA: I reviewed this for Netgalley in 2022, and it's apparently being republished in 2025, so it's a re-read.
ETA: I reviewed this for Netgalley in 2022, and it's apparently being republished in 2025, so it's a re-read.
November 28, 2022
It sounded quite intriguing: an account by a long-time Search and Rescue volunteer in the Pacific Northwest about the experiences she and her SAR dog, Keb, have gone through. Although the premise was exciting, the book itself was not.
Ms. Eshult's writing made me feel like I was reading an essay penned by a college freshman for an Intro to Writing 101 class. As another review stated, it just didn't flow. There was no sense of suspense conveyed and I found the details about training and certification dull. By the end of the first chapter I got the feeling this might be a DNF (did not finish) for me.
I understand the necessity for background information, and some of it was appreciated, but I found certain things were repeated in almost every chapter, such as the SAR community in-fighting and the bad attitude of certain decision makers. The actual amount of time in the book that was devoted to Keb searching for missing or deceased individuals was minimal. I was also surprised to find that Keb didn't have more success stories - this book was mostly about the details surrounding circumstances of training and certification, getting ready to deploy, and cleaning up afterward. Another disappointment was that we aren't told the results of cases where bones and other evidence were found. Ms. Elshult states that the handlers aren't given information by law enforcement after a find and must wait until it comes out at trial. This book would have benefited from having that closure to the cases included. I wish there had been background and a story about the victims. Without that, it felt unfinished and incomplete. I skimmed through several chapters after losing interest somewhere around Chapter 3 and it was the same in each of those I looked over.
Perhaps with a good rewrite and edit this would become more compelling. It has potential, but as it stands now, it falls flat. The photos of Keb were wonderful - it was nice to see him in action. I commend Ms. Elshult and Keb for their work and wish them the best.
Ms. Eshult's writing made me feel like I was reading an essay penned by a college freshman for an Intro to Writing 101 class. As another review stated, it just didn't flow. There was no sense of suspense conveyed and I found the details about training and certification dull. By the end of the first chapter I got the feeling this might be a DNF (did not finish) for me.
I understand the necessity for background information, and some of it was appreciated, but I found certain things were repeated in almost every chapter, such as the SAR community in-fighting and the bad attitude of certain decision makers. The actual amount of time in the book that was devoted to Keb searching for missing or deceased individuals was minimal. I was also surprised to find that Keb didn't have more success stories - this book was mostly about the details surrounding circumstances of training and certification, getting ready to deploy, and cleaning up afterward. Another disappointment was that we aren't told the results of cases where bones and other evidence were found. Ms. Elshult states that the handlers aren't given information by law enforcement after a find and must wait until it comes out at trial. This book would have benefited from having that closure to the cases included. I wish there had been background and a story about the victims. Without that, it felt unfinished and incomplete. I skimmed through several chapters after losing interest somewhere around Chapter 3 and it was the same in each of those I looked over.
Perhaps with a good rewrite and edit this would become more compelling. It has potential, but as it stands now, it falls flat. The photos of Keb were wonderful - it was nice to see him in action. I commend Ms. Elshult and Keb for their work and wish them the best.
February 27, 2023
Great Read
This book was a wonderful read for anyone wanting to learn more about K9 search and rescue. Those of us not experienced may not realize what dedication and constant training is required to be a part of such an organization. A huge thanks to all those who are called to such selfless service!
This book was a wonderful read for anyone wanting to learn more about K9 search and rescue. Those of us not experienced may not realize what dedication and constant training is required to be a part of such an organization. A huge thanks to all those who are called to such selfless service!
August 10, 2025
Reviews
📚THANK YOU TO NETGALLEY AND THOSE INVOLVED WITH THE BOOK FOR THE FREE EBOOK IN EXHANGE FOR AN HONEST REIVEW OF MY OWN📚
|A Dog’s Devotion: True Adventures of a K9 Search and Rescue Team - Suzanne Elhult & James Guy Mansfield| |Memoir|
‼️TRIGGERS: DEATH (in case readers didn’t have the foresight to guess by the title)‼️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ -4.5 out of 5-
I went into this book purely based off of the cover as I was drawn in by the image of Keb (the k9); so I had no ‘expectations’ per say when going into this book.
The book follows Suzanne and Keb throughout their journey in the search and rescue team and Keb’s development as a K9 and the different disciplines involved.
The memoir format of the book gives a personal insight and retelling of training and missions throughout Suzanne’s career with Keb; the way it is written with dignity and respect for the professionals, deceased and their loved ones involved makes the book comfortable to view as a reader and not uncomfortable or unsettled by the subject matter.
The book gives a perspective on this type of work which you wouldn’t get from mainstream media outlets; showing the good and the bad, the ups and the downs. With the way it is written, it keeps you emotionally invested; I went into with not much hope for survival rates but reading about the tragedies and it not just being thought about makes it real and reminds you of the unpredictability that is life.
Having glossary of terms at the start of the book was a huge positive for me as it made sure you could understand the book if you didn’t have any knowledge or experience in the subject area yourself.
I would definitely recommend this book to others; it would also make a good gift to those who have a preference of non-fiction books especially true life.
📚THANK YOU TO NETGALLEY AND THOSE INVOLVED WITH THE BOOK FOR THE FREE EBOOK IN EXHANGE FOR AN HONEST REIVEW OF MY OWN📚
|A Dog’s Devotion: True Adventures of a K9 Search and Rescue Team - Suzanne Elhult & James Guy Mansfield| |Memoir|
‼️TRIGGERS: DEATH (in case readers didn’t have the foresight to guess by the title)‼️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ -4.5 out of 5-
I went into this book purely based off of the cover as I was drawn in by the image of Keb (the k9); so I had no ‘expectations’ per say when going into this book.
The book follows Suzanne and Keb throughout their journey in the search and rescue team and Keb’s development as a K9 and the different disciplines involved.
The memoir format of the book gives a personal insight and retelling of training and missions throughout Suzanne’s career with Keb; the way it is written with dignity and respect for the professionals, deceased and their loved ones involved makes the book comfortable to view as a reader and not uncomfortable or unsettled by the subject matter.
The book gives a perspective on this type of work which you wouldn’t get from mainstream media outlets; showing the good and the bad, the ups and the downs. With the way it is written, it keeps you emotionally invested; I went into with not much hope for survival rates but reading about the tragedies and it not just being thought about makes it real and reminds you of the unpredictability that is life.
Having glossary of terms at the start of the book was a huge positive for me as it made sure you could understand the book if you didn’t have any knowledge or experience in the subject area yourself.
I would definitely recommend this book to others; it would also make a good gift to those who have a preference of non-fiction books especially true life.
December 15, 2024
I’m going through a search and rescue phase, and this is the second of two books I was reading at the same time on the subject. This one is by the handler of a dual-certified HRD and air scent (live find) yellow Lab in Washington State. The book tells the story of the author’s journey in SAR, mostly local searches in cold, snowy mountains (although she does also get to do some searches in Sweden where she visits every year with her dog). The book also covers the politics of local SAR, which I believe is a thing on every SAR team (at least it was on the one where I was a candidate member for a couple of years). I could read these books all day, honestly. It’s the closest thing to actually handling a SAR dog myself.
September 9, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.
Dogs are the best. And combining well trained search and rescue dogs with their handlers and other pros, they make a great team.
Each of the stories in this book show different types of searches the teams participated in. The pictures were definitely an added bonus.
I live vicariously through these SARS teams and their amazing dogs.
Dogs are the best. And combining well trained search and rescue dogs with their handlers and other pros, they make a great team.
Each of the stories in this book show different types of searches the teams participated in. The pictures were definitely an added bonus.
I live vicariously through these SARS teams and their amazing dogs.
March 19, 2023
This was a very overlong book, with far too much description of the bushland in which searches were carried out, and quite a bit of repetition. Apart from that, the dog was gorgeous! The sad thing for me was that not one of the searches found a living person. Whether that is statistically correct, I don't know, but out of eleven cases of missing people, to not find anyone alive is pretty horrible.
March 12, 2024
Fabulous book about Search & Rescue dog Keb and her handler Suzanne. Their experiences, their methods of training and searching, their wonderful partnership. I loved every minute of this book, and am so grateful I came across it.
April 24, 2024
Fascinating real-life first hand stories of how SAR dogs and handlers are rigorously trained and used in all kinds of weather and terrain.
March 13, 2023
Great read on canine search with compelling case stories. Dogs are heroes.
March 21, 2023
True adventures of a Search and Rescue team
So many times you hear news reports of missing people, and that search and rescue teams have been deployed. This is the story of one such team - Suzanne and her K9 partner Keb. Fascinating to read about the training a search and rescue dog goes through - especially one that is trained to look for human remains, not just a living person. And all done on a volunteer basis, with no pay. Thank God there are such dedicated people in the world. Fascinating book.
So many times you hear news reports of missing people, and that search and rescue teams have been deployed. This is the story of one such team - Suzanne and her K9 partner Keb. Fascinating to read about the training a search and rescue dog goes through - especially one that is trained to look for human remains, not just a living person. And all done on a volunteer basis, with no pay. Thank God there are such dedicated people in the world. Fascinating book.
December 12, 2022
I have always been fascinated by K-9 rescue teams. What they do and what they put themselves and their dogs through is nothing short of heroic. Every time they embark on a rescue, they are risking their lives and the lives of their beloved dogs. Sometimes that danger is apparent and immediate, and sometimes it comes creeping in years later.
So, I really, really wanted to like this book. I kept reading, hoping that the next chapter, or the next mission, would be better, but that never happened. The writing is so choppy. It doesn't flow, it doesn't pull you in, it doesn't paint the picture of what is happening. Suzanne's sections tend to be longer and are more frustrating because of these issues. It's like she is delivering a report; not telling a story. I never got a good sense of who she was. She goes off on tangents that distract from the stories, and adds in random sidebars that don't bring anything to the narrative.
Guy's sections are easier to read, but that is because they are so much shorter and to the point. They still don't flow, and they still sound like a report being given, but they are not as irritating as Suzanne's sections
I think that both of these people, and all of the K-9s, are heroes. They make a difference with every mission, and with every hour of training that they do. However, these two heroes are not writers, and I think this book would have been much better had they used a co-writer.
Good stories about K-9 rescue teams will stand the test of time because they show momentous actions by a very small, dedicated group of people and their dogs. This one will not join that group, not because the subjects aren't worthy, but because the stories are not well-written. It's a shame, but it is what it is.
So, I really, really wanted to like this book. I kept reading, hoping that the next chapter, or the next mission, would be better, but that never happened. The writing is so choppy. It doesn't flow, it doesn't pull you in, it doesn't paint the picture of what is happening. Suzanne's sections tend to be longer and are more frustrating because of these issues. It's like she is delivering a report; not telling a story. I never got a good sense of who she was. She goes off on tangents that distract from the stories, and adds in random sidebars that don't bring anything to the narrative.
Guy's sections are easier to read, but that is because they are so much shorter and to the point. They still don't flow, and they still sound like a report being given, but they are not as irritating as Suzanne's sections
I think that both of these people, and all of the K-9s, are heroes. They make a difference with every mission, and with every hour of training that they do. However, these two heroes are not writers, and I think this book would have been much better had they used a co-writer.
Good stories about K-9 rescue teams will stand the test of time because they show momentous actions by a very small, dedicated group of people and their dogs. This one will not join that group, not because the subjects aren't worthy, but because the stories are not well-written. It's a shame, but it is what it is.
September 26, 2022
This is a really good effort by Suzanne Elshult. My life's work is centered around canines and my love for them. I think sometimes working with them can be romanticized a bit. It's hard work and it is not just playing with dogs all day. This book does a wonderful job showing the reality of dog-related jobs and specifically search and rescue.
The flow is not always perfect but I think that comes with someone who is a rescuer first and a writer second.
This book shows the feeling of finding someone who didn't make it out of a disaster. It shows the hope of finding someone who is still alive. It shows how often you may turn up with nothing on some days. It shows the triumph of the dog when they alert to a potential victim/survivor location and the pride you feel when you find out those alerts have paid off and the emergency workers were able to find something to either give a family closure or reunite them with a loved one.
I have the utmost respect for the people who dedicate so much time and endure such rough conditions all to save someone they likely don't know and never will know personally. This book definitely needed to be written and I'm so glad that Suzanne gave us this gift.
The flow is not always perfect but I think that comes with someone who is a rescuer first and a writer second.
This book shows the feeling of finding someone who didn't make it out of a disaster. It shows the hope of finding someone who is still alive. It shows how often you may turn up with nothing on some days. It shows the triumph of the dog when they alert to a potential victim/survivor location and the pride you feel when you find out those alerts have paid off and the emergency workers were able to find something to either give a family closure or reunite them with a loved one.
I have the utmost respect for the people who dedicate so much time and endure such rough conditions all to save someone they likely don't know and never will know personally. This book definitely needed to be written and I'm so glad that Suzanne gave us this gift.
January 1, 2023
It was a great read into a world I knew nothing about. Keb, the dog's nose is amazing. It is mind-blowing how much she can do. And it is really mind-boggling to know that the job of search, rescue, recovery is mostly done by volunteers. Reading how much mentally, physically, financially it takes to do it, it is just awe-inspiring.
January 20, 2023
True crime, dogs with jobs, and a local (Edmonds!) author.
April 29, 2023
A Dog’s Devotion:
True Adventures of a K9 Search and Rescue Team
Elshult, MA, Suzanne and James Guy Mansfield, PhD
***/*****
Goodreads Review
by
Stormrider
Elshult, MA, Suzanne and James Guy Mansfield, PhD. 2022. Lanham, MD: Rowman and Littlefield.
Read: 14 -19 April 2023. Finished, reviewed.
The writing was at times needlessly repetitive and ponderous. I found the story of interest because of the significant organizational and technological changes since I was heavily involved in Search and Rescue/Recovery missions as a National Park Service Mounted Law Enforcement Ranger 1978-1980. Additionally, as a Special Operations Green Beret in Viet Nam ten years prior to my NPS duty, I was involved in what were called Bright Light Missions to rescue or conduct recovery operations for trapped, injured or dead American and allied pilots or other endangered personnel.
The organizational and technological changes in mission parameters and procedures were amazing. The most disappointing thing I garnered from the story were the jealousies, rivalries and pettiness of some of the involved SAR personnel. In my time, we often worked with multi unit task forces and our only concern was to accomplish the mission if possible. The discipline of elite military units provides for a very different mission mindset, and with the exception of fitness levels, I did not experience the problems with law enforcement personnel that beset the authors.
We did not have SAR dogs though they would have been a great asset. The dogs we had were used for early warning and attack and the enemy dogs were primarily used to attempt to locate our Recon Teams. We carried silenced .22 caliber pistols to deal with enemy dogs that compromised us. Something I hated to do but it was part of the exigencies of survival in a very active hostile environment.
Suzanne and Guy are to be complimented for their dedication and commitment to the missions they were assigned. As an immigrant from Sweden, I found he approach to reflect the socialism of her native country. There was definitely a difference in the emotional involvement of the SAR personnel and the teams I worked on. The advantage, if there was to be one for our operations, was our use of Indigenous American trackers. LIke the Montagnard trackers we used in northern South Viet Nam and Laos, the native skills were simply unbelievable. I felt bad for Suzanne and Guy having to deal with the pettiness of institutional bureaucracies and the accompanying mistrust and arrogance of government agency personnel.
God Bless Keb and all the other K9s that do so much for so little reward.
High Lonesome, A.T.
28 April 2023
440 words
True Adventures of a K9 Search and Rescue Team
Elshult, MA, Suzanne and James Guy Mansfield, PhD
***/*****
Goodreads Review
by
Stormrider
Elshult, MA, Suzanne and James Guy Mansfield, PhD. 2022. Lanham, MD: Rowman and Littlefield.
Read: 14 -19 April 2023. Finished, reviewed.
The writing was at times needlessly repetitive and ponderous. I found the story of interest because of the significant organizational and technological changes since I was heavily involved in Search and Rescue/Recovery missions as a National Park Service Mounted Law Enforcement Ranger 1978-1980. Additionally, as a Special Operations Green Beret in Viet Nam ten years prior to my NPS duty, I was involved in what were called Bright Light Missions to rescue or conduct recovery operations for trapped, injured or dead American and allied pilots or other endangered personnel.
The organizational and technological changes in mission parameters and procedures were amazing. The most disappointing thing I garnered from the story were the jealousies, rivalries and pettiness of some of the involved SAR personnel. In my time, we often worked with multi unit task forces and our only concern was to accomplish the mission if possible. The discipline of elite military units provides for a very different mission mindset, and with the exception of fitness levels, I did not experience the problems with law enforcement personnel that beset the authors.
We did not have SAR dogs though they would have been a great asset. The dogs we had were used for early warning and attack and the enemy dogs were primarily used to attempt to locate our Recon Teams. We carried silenced .22 caliber pistols to deal with enemy dogs that compromised us. Something I hated to do but it was part of the exigencies of survival in a very active hostile environment.
Suzanne and Guy are to be complimented for their dedication and commitment to the missions they were assigned. As an immigrant from Sweden, I found he approach to reflect the socialism of her native country. There was definitely a difference in the emotional involvement of the SAR personnel and the teams I worked on. The advantage, if there was to be one for our operations, was our use of Indigenous American trackers. LIke the Montagnard trackers we used in northern South Viet Nam and Laos, the native skills were simply unbelievable. I felt bad for Suzanne and Guy having to deal with the pettiness of institutional bureaucracies and the accompanying mistrust and arrogance of government agency personnel.
God Bless Keb and all the other K9s that do so much for so little reward.
High Lonesome, A.T.
28 April 2023
440 words
July 25, 2025
First, a reassuring note for dog lovers: Keb—the heroic search-and-rescue dog at the heart of this book—is alive and well at the end!
I found A Dog’s Devotion to be an informative and eye-opening read. I hadn’t realized there are distinct types of training for dogs that search for the living versus those who locate human remains. The book offered valuable insight into the world of search-and-rescue (SAR), law enforcement collaboration, and the emotional impact on families. Above all, it left me with deep admiration for the volunteers who give their time, energy, and often their personal vacation days to undertake difficult, sometimes dangerous missions in rugged terrain.
That said, I did feel the book lacked a cohesive narrative. While it includes compelling SAR episodes, information on dog training, reflections on the bond between handler and dog, and technical aspects of search planning, these pieces felt fragmented. The result is more like a series of thematic essays than a continuous story. I would have loved more detailed accounts of Keb actively working in the field—and was surprised by how few successful outcomes were included.
This nonfiction work pairs well with the novel Heartwood by Amity Gaige, which also centers on a search for a missing woman on the Appalachian Trail.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
I found A Dog’s Devotion to be an informative and eye-opening read. I hadn’t realized there are distinct types of training for dogs that search for the living versus those who locate human remains. The book offered valuable insight into the world of search-and-rescue (SAR), law enforcement collaboration, and the emotional impact on families. Above all, it left me with deep admiration for the volunteers who give their time, energy, and often their personal vacation days to undertake difficult, sometimes dangerous missions in rugged terrain.
That said, I did feel the book lacked a cohesive narrative. While it includes compelling SAR episodes, information on dog training, reflections on the bond between handler and dog, and technical aspects of search planning, these pieces felt fragmented. The result is more like a series of thematic essays than a continuous story. I would have loved more detailed accounts of Keb actively working in the field—and was surprised by how few successful outcomes were included.
This nonfiction work pairs well with the novel Heartwood by Amity Gaige, which also centers on a search for a missing woman on the Appalachian Trail.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
March 8, 2023
The author got involved in a K-9 search and rescue group in Snohomish County, Washington. She was one of the first women to be allowed in an all-male program. But before all this, Suzanne spent many, many hours training for the program. Luckily, she came from a Swedish background of mountain climbing and other outdoor wilderness activities. Her first dog breaks her in and then as it aged she got another puppy, Keb. They shared many hours together training each other. Suzanne and Keb become much in demand as she completes many certifications for different types of K-9 trainings. I didn't realize there was different training for hunting for alive vs dead people. It was interesting to learn of dogs scent abilities. Her first big SAR was the huge landslide in the Oso area of Washington where 43 people lost their lives. The author takes you through a few more SAR activities and also her involvement in SAR groups in Sweden, her home country, a country where over 7000 people go missing annually. She finds they have already started a SAR group, but she can participate in some of their searches and exchange advice and techniques for training. A good book for those that might be interested in learning more about this field. SARs are volunteers and training and gear is at the cost of the volunteers. Dedicated individuals, for sure.
August 5, 2025
I really enjoyed this book and learning about a field I didn’t know a lot about. And like many books with dogs, this does make me love them more. However I found myself being taken out of the moment quite often by the repetition of certain stories or aspects of the SAR life. This started for me in chapter 4, but continued throughout. It’s hearing about the exact same training story, the exact same internal politics, etc. The most egregious was in the coyote chapter, where we learn that Keb was not trained for proofing off animals. And then 1 page later, we are told “I wonder if Keb has been proofed on animals”. It took me out everytime it happened and made it hard to enjoy the reading experience. Nonetheless, I had a good time, I learned new things, and I enjoyed the books descriptions. Thank you to the publisher for the e-copy!
Want to read
December 23, 2022This is an important book for people to read. Search and rescue work is demanding and requires highly trained dogs and handlers.
These teams are called in to do dangerous jobs that risk the lives of the dogs and their handlers. The dogs are so devoted to their jobs.
These volunteer teams get the opportunity to locate people that are alive and need help. They also look for bones and people that are dead. So there are adventures with wonderful endings. But there are also finds where the end is successful but it is very sad for the dogs and handlers.
These teams are called in to do dangerous jobs that risk the lives of the dogs and their handlers. The dogs are so devoted to their jobs.
These volunteer teams get the opportunity to locate people that are alive and need help. They also look for bones and people that are dead. So there are adventures with wonderful endings. But there are also finds where the end is successful but it is very sad for the dogs and handlers.
November 27, 2024
a nice recount of local SAR
The authors have shared interesting stories from their secondary careers in SAR. The chapters are structured around different search events from the perspective of Suzanne, and I appreciated the “debrief” sections at the end where each author shared notes.
Definitely worth a read for those interested in K9 SAR or are a local to Snohomish County.
I didn’t find the discussion of internal politics in the organization enjoyable, but it’s clear that this was true for the authors as well and was included as it was a part of their experience.
The authors have shared interesting stories from their secondary careers in SAR. The chapters are structured around different search events from the perspective of Suzanne, and I appreciated the “debrief” sections at the end where each author shared notes.
Definitely worth a read for those interested in K9 SAR or are a local to Snohomish County.
I didn’t find the discussion of internal politics in the organization enjoyable, but it’s clear that this was true for the authors as well and was included as it was a part of their experience.
March 20, 2024
Fascinating look into the realities and behind-the-scene views of SAR K-9 teams. The constant training, extreme conditions, and often unrealistic expectations of those not familiar with the discipline. This book was, at times, engrossing, at times frustrating, and sometimes jarring. It was eye-opening to see some of the work that goes into planning a SAR mission and I loved reading about so many happenings in my home state.
April 10, 2023
Great insight into selecting and training not only the people but the dogs for search and rescue. The incredible amount of time/effort that goes into the searches, much of it unpaid speaks very highly of the people who volunteer for these teams. The author takes us through selecting/training and then recounts several of the missions that they participated in.
December 4, 2023
I read every page desperately searching for the author's reason for choosing the title, "A Dog's Devotion." We receive only glimpses into her relationship with her dog but more often than not, the stories are clumsy recollections of the searches in which she has participated. The author attempts to be a journalist -- although she castigates the news media several times -- and typically fails.
May 3, 2024
Suzanne Elshult and Guy did an amazing job telling their stories of SAR in Washington. Learning the training, the ups and downs, the politics, and everything in between when it comes to search and rescue with K9's is so interesting and very emotional. I'll definitely be looking into the cascadia search dogs and Cairn Canine Detection after reading this.
October 8, 2022
I learned a lot reading this. The first hand accounts are interesting. Anyone can enjoy this, including those considering working in a k9 unit.
I really appreciate the free ARC for review!!
I really appreciate the free ARC for review!!
April 12, 2023
Absolute devotion as described
Great book that tells so much about the vital role of search dogs. Highly recommend this read, even if you don't like dogs!
Great book that tells so much about the vital role of search dogs. Highly recommend this read, even if you don't like dogs!
August 24, 2025
Lost hikers. Natural disaster victims. Murder victims. Elshult and her search dogs (often with Mansfield on the team) have gone out looking for all of them. From the Oso landslide to missing persons cases in Sweden, Elshult takes the reader through some of the searches she and her dog Keb have worked on.
I can't really tell you why, but I love me a book about search and rescue, and although I'm 1000% a cat person, I also love me a book specifically about search and rescue dogs. Truly, about the only thing that makes me wish I were a dog person is that being entirely not a dog person means that my chances of doing this kind of search and rescue are nil. So this kind of memoir? Yes please.
The book doesn't disappoint, telling stories of both searches in which she and Keb were hoping to find a living person and searches in which they were just hoping to provide closure. A couple of the stories I was familiar with already (...not my first lost-in-the-woods book!), but there's a good variety. In most, but not all, of the missing-persons cases here there's some sort of resolution, but the book is good about avoiding too much foreshadowing, letting the stories play out as the team experienced them. One or two stories felt a bit long, but I think that was just that...well, some searches take longer than others.
There's a fair amount in here about organizational politics and infighting, which was honestly pretty sad to read about. Obviously any organization can fall prey to such infighting, but how sad when it's in the context of people doing such good/important/skilled work. Not something I really would have expected, going into this book.
Not one for the faint of heart, but a good reminder of how much good a few determined people—and their uniquely qualified dogs—can do in a bad situation.
Thanks to the author and publisher for providing a review copy through NetGalley.
I can't really tell you why, but I love me a book about search and rescue, and although I'm 1000% a cat person, I also love me a book specifically about search and rescue dogs. Truly, about the only thing that makes me wish I were a dog person is that being entirely not a dog person means that my chances of doing this kind of search and rescue are nil. So this kind of memoir? Yes please.
The book doesn't disappoint, telling stories of both searches in which she and Keb were hoping to find a living person and searches in which they were just hoping to provide closure. A couple of the stories I was familiar with already (...not my first lost-in-the-woods book!), but there's a good variety. In most, but not all, of the missing-persons cases here there's some sort of resolution, but the book is good about avoiding too much foreshadowing, letting the stories play out as the team experienced them. One or two stories felt a bit long, but I think that was just that...well, some searches take longer than others.
There's a fair amount in here about organizational politics and infighting, which was honestly pretty sad to read about. Obviously any organization can fall prey to such infighting, but how sad when it's in the context of people doing such good/important/skilled work. Not something I really would have expected, going into this book.
Not one for the faint of heart, but a good reminder of how much good a few determined people—and their uniquely qualified dogs—can do in a bad situation.
Thanks to the author and publisher for providing a review copy through NetGalley.
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