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Last Name | Smith |
Date Join STAR | 1998-07-18 |
Office Held | |
Disciplines | |
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
Thank you Letter from the Barona Indian Tribe and Gray & Gray Investigations for the Elijah “Running Bear” Diaz Search
2013 Letters of Appreciation
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
2010 Letters of Appreciation Leigh Hearon for efforts in regards to the search for Mark Stover
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
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
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
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
Coconino County Sheriff’s Department: Letter of Commendation for Kristi Smith & Sheik for the Antelope Canyon Incident, 1997
Samaritan Health Systems:
City of Phoenix Police Department:
Kentucky Search Dog Association:
Victoria Dog Obedience Club: |
Name | Kristi |
Dog Profile
Star ID: | K9-110 |
Name: | Keahi |
Picture | |
Status: | |
Date of birth: | 2005-06-05 |
Breed: | Belgian Tervuren |
Airscent: | |
Cadaver: | |
Avalanche: | |
Disaster: | |
Evidence: | |
Human Remains: | |
Trailing: | |
Water: |
Dog Profile 2
Star ID: | K9-155 |
Name: | Colt |
Picture: | |
Status: | |
Date of Birth | 2008-11-19 |
Breed: | Belgian Tervuren |
Airscent | |
Cadaver: | |
Evidence: | |
Human Remains: | |
Water: |
Dog Profile 3
Star ID: | K9-156 |
Name: | Valentino |
Picture: | |
Status | |
Date of Birth: | 2008-11-19 |
Breed: | Belgian Tervuren |
Airscent: | |
Cadaver: | |
Evidence: | |
Human Remains: | |
Water: |
Dog Profile 4
Star ID: | K9-184 |
Name: | Poirot |
Picture: | |
Status: | |
Date of Birth: | 2010-12-15 |
Breed: | Bloodhound |
Evidence | |
Human Remains | |
Trailing | |
Water: |
Dog Profile 5
Star ID: | K9-220 |
Name: | Ismaer |
Status: | |
Date of Birth: | 2013-09-08 |
Breed: | Belgian Tervuren |
Airscent: | |
Cadaver: | |
Evidence: | |
Human Remains |
Dog Profile 6
Star ID: | K-221 |
Name: | Sol |
Status: | |
Date of Birth | 2013-11-03 |
Breed: | Belgian Tervuren |
Airscent: | |
Cadaver: | |
Evidence: | |
Human Remains: | |
Water |