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Base

Last Name

Smith

Date Join STAR

1998-07-18

Office Held

Commander

Disciplines

Certified

Biography

Kristi has had a love affair with dogs her entire life. She began training dogs competitively in her teenage years when she began showing Rough Collies and Doberman Pinschers in Conformation and Obedience Classes for her parents. She finished her first Doberman Breed Champion when she was only 13 years old. In 1982 she joined the Victoria Dog Obedience Club and was an obedience instructor and active member for many years, even after moving away from Victoria.

 

In 1988 she took an interest in Search and Rescue and has volunteered countless hours every year since, in this endeavor. During Kristi’s years of involvement with SAR she has responded to numerous searches that resulted in many finds and letters of commendation for service. In 1997 alone she responded to approximately 35 searches as a K-9 Team Leader and Handler of Sheik & Remington, which resulted in them having many finds. These finds included wilderness, water, urban, disaster, cadaver, evidence and bone identification. Kristi began her SAR Career with the Kentucky Search Dog Association and continues her association with that organization. Kristi was instrumental in the formation of MARK-9 and Arizona Search Track and Rescue, Inc. and has served in numerous capacities with both organizations. She also helped set some of the highest standards and testing & evaluation procedures for K-9’s and Handlers in the state with these organizations. Kristi has trained 8 Certified Operational search and rescue dogs of her own, Six to advanced levels. Five of these have passed on and she currently has Two Operational dogs and one dog in training. Two are certified and one is being trained to advanced levels. Outside of working her dogs, Kristi volunteers many hours doing guest speaking, public appearances, demonstrations and working with youth and adult groups to educate them about wilderness safety as well as the capabilities of search dogs in various disciplines.

 

AZ STaR Roles: Commander, Training Officer, Standards & Records Officer, Team Leader, Public Information Officer, Search Management, Lead Instructor, and Operational K9 Handler in the following disciplines: Airscent, Trailing, Cadaver, Water, & Evidence.

Additionally, Kristi is a Certified Veterinary Technician who manages a Dog Training Business, K9-Games and is on the Board of Directors for the Veterinary Health Care Team of Arizona (since 2002). She has also been the Education Committee Chairman (2002 – 2009), setting educational opportunities for Veterinary Staff statewide, is the Past President for 2007-2009 and currently remains a Director for the Organization.

 

Other Organizations

International Association Canine Professionals – Professional Member since 2005  Service Dog Committee 2011 to Present (Past Chairman)

Professional Association of Dive Instructors (PADI) since 2009

NASAR Member since 1989/1990 – 2008

American Belgian Tervuren Club Member , since 1989 – 2008, 2011- Present

Victoria Dog Obedience Club since 1983 – 2004

American Red Cross Volunteer & Health and Safety Instructor; 2000 to 2004

Maricopa County Sheriff’s Department, 1993 – 1998 Desert Search Unit & Maricopa Association of Search Dogs (MaRK-9) • SAR Dog Handler & Man-tracker for MCSO Desert Search Unit from 8-93 through 10-1996 • Commander of MARK-9 (newly formed SAR K-9 unit) 10/96 – 9/97 • SAR Dog Handler 8/93 – 5/98 • Team leader 8/93 – 5/98

Kentucky Search Dog Association, since 1988 • Director, Secretary, • Standards & Records Officer • Assistant Training Officer • Operational Level I & II Search Dog Handler • Overhead Management • Obedience Officer, and Assistant Obedience Officer • Assistant Class Instructor

Lexington Kennel Club, since 1989

Awards

The awards and Commendations that I have received include but are not limited to the following:

2015 Awards & Letters
Veterinary  Health Care Team of Arizona, November 2015   “MVP Award” in recognition of Exemplary and Valuable Contributions as a Distinguished Leader, Director and an Officer

 

Thank you Letter from the Barona Indian Tribe and Gray & Gray Investigations for the Elijah “Running Bear” Diaz Search

 

2013 Letters of Appreciation
La Plata County Sheriff’s Office – Redwine Search
Mike Histand – search for his son, Brian Histand
Susan Lakoff –  Search for her missing son, Timothy Waugaman
Salinas Family – for our efforts in assisting with the Adrienne Salinas search
Culolias Family – four our efforts in assisting with the Jack Culolias search

 

American Kennel Club, 2012 ACE Awards

Keahi, one of the SAR dogs that I handler was nominated by several individuals and selected as the AKC ACE Award Winner for 2012 Search and Rescue Dog of the Year.

 

American Kennel Club, 2011 ACE Awards

Keahi, one of the SAR dogs that I handle was nominated by Barb Mair, from Chicago, Illinois for this prestigious award for her exemplary efforts in SAR and as a Therapy Dog to not only people but to other dogs.

 

American Kennel Club, 2011 ACE Awards

Keahi, one of the SAR dogs that I handle was nominated by Kelly Snyder, a Private Investigator from Arizona for this prestigious award for her exemplary efforts in SAR on the many cases that we have worked for this investigator.

 

American Kennel Club, 2011 ACE Awards

Keahi, one of the SAR dogs that I handle was nominated by Leaigh Hearon, a Private Investigator from Washingon State for this prestigious award for her exemplary efforts in SAR and in particular a high profile Murder Case in Anacortes, Washington

 

2012 Letters of Appreciation

Colorado Springs PD in regards to Deborah Heriford
Family of Deborah Heriford

 

2010 Letters of Appreciation

Leigh Hearon for efforts in regards to the search for Mark Stover
Multiple Investigators and Family of  Lorene Bardy
Family of Lindsay Baum
RCMP & Family of Maddie Scott

 

Veterinary Health Care Team of Arizona May 2009

Kristi Smith, CVT, Presidents Award for Outstanding Leadership, Dedication and Commitment to the Veterinary Profession

 

Letters of Appreciation from The Turner & McCaffrey Families

Kristi and Keahi for their exemplary efforts in managing and searching in the Hugh Turner search for Mesa Police Departments Missing Persons Unit.

 

Arizona Veterinary Medical Profession:  2008-2009

AZVMA – My search dog Chance was named as Arizona’s Inductee into the Pet Hall of Fame, October 2006 at the Wild West Veterinary Conference in Reno, Nevada

 

Veterinary Health Care Team of Arizona May 2006:

Kristi Smith, CVT, Award for contributions to the association and service to the Veterinary Medical Profession

 

Shelton Family:  2004

Letter of Appreciation to Kristi Smith for my assistance with the Joan Shelton Search in the Santa Catalina Mountains on May 1, 2004

 

Del Monte Fresh Produce:

Multiple Letters of appreciation to Kristi Smith and Remington for their assistance with the Pedro Corzo Search, Jan, 11, 2004

 

White Mountain Indian Tribal Council:

Letter of Appreciation to Kristi Smith, Remington and Chance for their assistance with the Rupert Thompson Search September 27-2002

 

American Red Cross – Grand Canyon Chapter:

 

Outstanding Service to the Community, 2002

Letter of Commendation to Kristi Smith for Outstanding Service to the Community and for her efforts in response to the Rodeo-Chediski Wildfire Disaster, 2002
2002 Certificate of Appreciation, American Red Cross, Arizona Rocks Convention Volunteer
2002 Certificate of Appreciation, American Red Cross, Northeast AZ Wildfires

 

National Center for Missing & Exploited Children:

 

Letter of appreciation for their assistance with the multiple Mikelle Biggs searches that have occurred from March 31, 2001 through March 17, 2003
2002 – Human Remains Detection Dog Training – SAR Dog Foundry & American Detector Dogs
Letter of appreciation to Kristi Smith, Sheik and Remington for their assistance with the “Coolidge Incident” November 27, 2000

 

Grand Canyon National Park Service:

Letter of appreciation to Kristi Smith and Sheik for their assistance with the Phantom Creek Flash Flood September 13, 1997 through September 16, 1997

 

Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office:

Outstanding Service to the Community, 1996
Outstanding Service to the Community, 1997

 

Maricopa Association of Rescue K-9’s, Maricopa County Sheriff’s Dept.:

Certificate of Achievement to Kristi Smith & Sheik (SAR K-9) for Outstanding Service to the Community, 1997
Certificate of Achievement to Kristi Smith & Remington (SAR K-9) for Outstanding Service to the Community, 1997
“Nose of the Desert Award” presented to Sheik & Remington

 

Coconino County Sheriff’s Department:

Letter of Commendation for Kristi Smith & Sheik for the Antelope Canyon Incident, 1997
Office of Emergency Services, Group III, Arizona Wing, Civil Air Patrol:
Letter of Commendation for Kristi Smith & Sheik for their presentation and demonstration of The use SAR K-9’s in a Missing Person Incident, 1997

 

Samaritan Health Systems:
Letter of Commendation to Kristi Smith & Sheik for their presentation and demonstration of SAR K-9’s, 1996, 1997

 

City of Phoenix Police Department:
Letter of Commendation for Kristi Smith & Sheik for the Brad Hanson Incident, 1995

 

Kentucky Search Dog Association:
Award for Outstanding Service to The Kentucky Search Dog Association, 1993

 

Victoria Dog Obedience Club:
Award to Kristi Smith & Sheik (SAR K-9) for their “Special Efforts in Search and Rescue”, 1992

Name

Kristi

Dog Profile

Star ID:

K9-110

Name:

Keahi

Picture

Status:

Active

Date of birth:

2005-06-05

Breed:

Belgian Tervuren

Airscent:

Certified

Cadaver:

Certified

Avalanche:

Certified

Disaster:

Certified

Evidence:

Certified

Human Remains:

Certified

Trailing:

Neither

Water:

Certified

Dog Profile 2

Star ID:

K9-155

Name:

Colt

Picture:

Status:

Active

Date of Birth

2008-11-19

Breed:

Belgian Tervuren

Airscent

Certified

Cadaver:

Certified

Evidence:

Certified

Human Remains:

Certified

Water:

Certified

Dog Profile 3

Star ID:

K9-156

Name:

Valentino

Picture:

Status

Active

Date of Birth:

2008-11-19

Breed:

Belgian Tervuren

Airscent:

Certified

Cadaver:

Certified

Evidence:

Certified

Human Remains:

Certified

Water:

Certified

Dog Profile 4

Star ID:

K9-184

Name:

Poirot

Picture:

Status:

Active

Date of Birth:

2010-12-15

Breed:

Bloodhound

Evidence

Certified

Human Remains

Certified

Trailing

Certifed

Water:

Certified

Dog Profile 5

Star ID:

K9-220

Name:

Ismaer

Status:

In training

Date of Birth:

2013-09-08

Breed:

Belgian Tervuren

Airscent:

In training

Cadaver:

In training

Evidence:

In training

Human Remains

In training

Dog Profile 6

Star ID:

K-221

Name:

Sol

Status:

In training

Date of Birth

2013-11-03

Breed:

Belgian Tervuren

Airscent:

In training

Cadaver:

In training

Evidence:

In training

Human Remains:

In training

Water

In training