Dog’s fun lifesaving for others

ELLENSBURG – She sits poised and ready for action, her tail wagging fervently in the front seat. Pressing her nose against the fogging window, she waits for her cue. She wants to play – and bad. Only it’s not a game. To some humans, Bazuka’s skills could mean the difference between life and death.

The 6-year-old Bazuka is highly trained in the art of search and rescue – tracking, air scenting and avalanche. In the past, she has even been certified for cadaver retrieval.

She spends her time at her Hyak home with handler Kevin Huggett and his other dog, 10-year-old Porter, who’s retired from his rescuing days due to an injury.

Porter is “getting to be an old man like me, and we have a little girl to keep up with,” Huggett said.

Bazuka began training at 10 weeks old. She’s come a long way during her training and was able to overcome her fears – including being lowered to a search site via helicopter.

Huggett said Bazuka has been able to find people buried in up to 10 feet of snow.

To keep Bazuka sharp and focused, Huggett drills her with dogs from across the state. Huggett also trains other dogs to become avalanche certified with the Backcountry Avalanche Rescue K-9s, or BARK team.