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Our Animal Staff

At Missing Pet Partnership, we have a staff of dedicated feline and canine employees who love their jobs! We employ Target Cats, Target Dogs, Magnet Dogs, MAR Cat Detection dogs, MAR Trailing dogs, and MAR Specific Scent Dogs.

TECHNICAL SUPPORT STAFF (not used to detect or track scent)

Target Cats are cats that are used to train our MAR search dogs. These cats have jobs which involve waiting silently (safe within a crate) for a search dog to find them. Target Dogs are wiggly, friend dogs that are walked through an area, laying a scent trail, so that a MAR Trailing Dog can track their scent and learn how to find lost dogs. Magnet Dogs are wiggly, friendly dogs that are used to lure in panicked dogs too afraid to come to people.

SEARCH DOGS (used to detect or track lost pet scent)

MAR Cat Detection dogs are specialists in locating lost cats. These dogs are used to search an area for any cat that is out there. MAR Trailing dogs are specialists in tracking the scent trail of lost dogs (and eventually other species). MAR Specific Scent dogs are trained “smell this smell, find this smell” and are specialists in conducting area searches for unique animals not likely to travel a great distance (i.e. pet snakes, turtles, ferrets, lizards, and rabbits). Your donations help Missing Pet Partnership to train our animal employees as we prepare to launch the first-ever lost pet search-and-rescue team in Seattle, WA.

The Cats

Cheeto

Guardian: Kat Albrecht

Cheeto is a mischievous, orange tabby named after the snack food he resembled as a kitten. He works for Missing Pet Partnership as a target cat, which means Cheeto hides (inside a cat carrier) from dogs that are trained to search for lost cats. Cheeto loves dogs and it's possible that he thinks he's a dog! His hobbies include playing with sticky tape, pawing at bedroom miniblinds at 5:00 a.m. to wake his human, and attacking red lazer lights. Cheeto is trained to sit up, beg, and wave his paw for a piece of dried salmon.

Myron

Guardian: Kat Albrecht

Myron is a ten-year-old gray tabby "target cat" who volunteers for Missing Pet Partnership (MPP), a national nonprofit organization working to pioneer lost pet services. Target cats are used to hide (safely inside a cat carrier) from "Cat Detection" search dogs that MPP trains to locate lost pets. Since 2001 MPP volunteers have used search dogs, high-tech equipment, and behavioral profiling to reunite lost companion animals with their families. Recovering lost pets helps reduce the number of unclaimed stray dogs and cats that are euthanized in animal shelters each year. MPP plans to launch the first-ever lost pet search-and-rescue team in Seattle, Washington.

Myron is a lap cat. He loves to snuggle with people and seeks out warm laps in the winter months. He also loves people food (BBQ chicken, beef, and even popcorn) and quickly learned how to shake a paw. If you eat in front of Myron he will stare, meow, and repeatedly tap your arm until you give him a morsel! His hobbies include begging, eating, sleeping, begging, eating, and sleeping.

 

The Dogs

Cougar

Owner/Handler: Shannon Todd

Cougar, a 5-year-old black lab/border collie mix, is a Cat Detection dog in training. He volunteers for Missing Pet Partnership (MPP), a nonprofit organization working to implement a nationwide lost pet services network. To become a member, volunteer and/or support Cougar's work, visit missingpetpartnership.org.

Rescued from a shelter in Spokane and raised in Seattle, by way of Pullman, Cougar loves life in the city. He is a very energetic and observant boy, spotting squirrels and the mailman long before his humans know what's going on. Squeaky toys, tennis balls and pigs ears are his weakness, with frozen peas not far behind. Cougar’s idea of a good time is a trip to the beach with romps in the ocean or a good old-fashioned house party, schmoozing with the guests. His DNA may be all dog, but at times Cougar appears more human than canine. He likes to “talk” to his humans for treats, water, to go outside, etc. He assumes he is a lap dog, but at 90lbs, he is optimistic. Though size may be intimidating, Cougar is a big sweetheart with a bit of separation anxiety, so he spends his days at his grandparents’ house getting spoiled. He claims to have a college degree because he spent time in Pullman with his mom, but we believe this is a sham for attention, so the only thing we let him claim from his college years is pride and the ability to high five, "GO COUGS!"

Harley

Owner/Handler: Amy Adams

Harley, a Dachshund/Beagle mix, is a certified Cat Detection dog. He volunteers for Missing Pet Partnership (MPP), a nonprofit organization working to pioneer lost pet services. By training dogs like Harley to sniff out lost animals, MPP hopes to reunite lost pets with their families while reducing the number of unclaimed stray cats that are euthanized each year in animal shelters. Volunteers and donations are needed to support this effort.

Harley has a little dog attitude which comes in handy when searching for lost cats. He wiggles with joy when he finds a kitty and nothing can stop him when he is on a search! Harley was once attacked by several bees during a training session but he insisted on moving forward to find the hidden cat! Harley and Amy live in North King County (east of Seattle), Washington with his best friend Rosie (a Doxie) with his kitty, Wolfe.

Kelsy

Owner/Handler: Jim Branson

Kelsy, from a shelter in Kelso, Washington, caught Jim's eye on Petfinder.com because she looked as if she could be the offspring of Porter and Tess, Jim's other black retriever mixes. Kelsy is very smart and energetic, and she needed a job to utilize her talents. Training with the Missing Pet Partnership, www.missingpetpartnership.org, keeps Kelsy out of trouble, and she will one day help missing dogs come home. She loves to find Porter and Tess in practice sessions.

Kelsy often swims in Lake Washington, at Magnuson Park off-leash area, and she fetches the ball as far as it can be thrown out into the lake. Kelsy, Porter, and Tess have hiked all around the Puget Sound area, through the Olympics and the Cascades. One of their favorite places to play is Useless Bay, on Whidbey Island. The Retrievers' adventures are chronicled on their own web site, www.uselessbay.org.

Kody

Guardian: Kat Albrecht

Kody is a seven-year-old Whippet mix who has worked her way through (down, actually) the ranks at Missing Pet Partnership. At first, Kody showed exceptional interest in kitties, so she was put into training for cat detection work. It soon became apparent that in warmer weather, Kody cared more about cool shade than she cared about lost kitties. During training she walked by two different cats (on two separate occasions) without giving any type of alert and was immediately fired from her job. While she spent a brief period of time in specific scent training, it soon became clear that Kody lacked the drive for any type of search work and that her wiggly, friendly temperament would be better suited to help capture loose dogs. So we hired Kody as a Magnet Dog and used her to lure in panicked dogs that were too afraid to come to people. Well, it wasn't long before Kody became afraid of the primary tool that we use to capture these dogs - the Snappy Snare. On one rescue, Kody was supposed to send off "come play with me signals" to a panicked German Shepherd. Instead, Kody sent off "run, run, run awaaaaayyy" signals (and we did not capture the German Shepherd because of this). So, we demoted Kody again to the ranks of resident Target Dog. Every Saturday we take Kody for walks in Seattle so that the MAR Trailing dogs can track her scent trail and find her. We all love Kody and realize that while not every dog is cut out for MAR work, some dogs are worth fighting to keep on staff! Kody, a total sweetheart, is certainly one of those dogs!

Ky

Owner/Handler: Pam O'Brien and Lizzy

Ky, a gorgeous Golden Retriever, is a Specific Scent Dog in training. Ky is learning to search for unique pets like escaped non-poisonous snakes, reptiles, rabbits, and ferrets. He volunteers for Missing Pet Partnership (MPP), a nonprofit organization working to pioneer lost pet services. By training dogs like Ky to sniff out lost pets, MPP hopes to reunite lost pets with their families.

Ky came from Europe and began training as a Bomb Detection Dog with the Washington State Patrol. Ky's loving personality didn't quite fit the drive for that demanding job. His "bombing" out of the bomb dog program will ultimately save the lives of lost cats in King County! Ky loves dog parks, car rides with his head out the window, and tennis balls. But Ky's biggest love is for kitties like his buddy Target Cat Cheeto (pictured next to him).

Lucy

Owner/Handler: Brian and Marie Newsham

Lucy, a yellow Labrador retriever, is a MAR Trailing dog in training. She volunteers for Missing Pet Partnership (MPP), a nonprofit organization working to pioneer lost pet services. By training dogs like Lucy to sniff out lost pets, MPP hopes to reunite lost pets with their families.

Born, raised, and loving the rain in Washington, Lucy loves playing hide-and-go-seek with both people and dogs - making her an ideal search dog in training. Even more so she loves squeaky toys, cardboard, expensive shoes, and sneaking off with the TV remote when her human family isn't looking. An incredibly wiggly dog with tons of energy, she's often equally happy to cuddle up on the couch with her head in your lap.

Rachelle

Owner/Handler: Brian and Kristi Gaudreau

Rachelle, an Airedale terrier mix, is a MAR Trailing dog in training. She was rescued from a shelter and now uses her love of other dogs to volunteer for Missing Pet Partnership (MPP).

Rachelle is an avid squeaky toy collector and her favorite game is superstar wrestling with her brother, Ray.

Sadie

Guardian: Kat Albrecht

Sadie is a twelve-year-old Weimaraner who loves kitties! She is a certified cat detection dog for Missing Pet Partnership. Sadie was donated to the organization in 2001 because she is not exactly trustworthy around small children. Sadie has successfully searched for lost cats in both California and in Seattle through Missing Pet Partnership's volunteer program. Sadie is getting up there in age and will likely be retired once more MAR Cat Detection dogs become certified in Seattle. Sadie loves soft squeaky toys, cheese, and broccoli. Her favorite time of the day is a toss up between breakfast, lunch, and dinner!

Sounder

Owner/Handler: Jenny Taylor and Peter Shifflette

Sounder, a 1 year old Labrador retriever/hound mix is a cat detection dog in training.  As a puppy with spunk for life and a hound-dog nose he was in need of a job to put his scent and animal friendly skills to work.  Missing Pet Partnership (MPP), a non-profit organization working to pioneer lost pet services, was a great fit and Sounder will one day be able to help reunite animal guardians with their beloved lost pets.

Sounder was rescued from the Spokane Humane Society when he was 4 months old.  When Jenny and Peter saw his puppy face and long ears on Petfinder.com they just knew that he needed to become a Puget Sounder and all theirs. Sounder has quite the taste for anything f-o-o-d related…don't say the word in his earshot unless you're ready for a good face licking and a 65 pound black blob in your lap. Anytime he can get away with it, he particularly enjoys sleeping on the bed, under the covers! Sounder loves going on walks, playing fetch with any stick he can find, chasing his ball through the backyard, and playing with other dogs and the 2 kitties he lives with.  At home he can usually be found perched on the top of the couch looking out for any critters, favorite doggies, or human visitors coming to give him attention.

Star

Owner/Handler: Carin Pavlinchak

Star, a 5 year old Golden Retriever mix, is a certified Cat Detection dog. She volunteers for Missing Pet Partnership (MPP), a nonprofit organization working to pioneer lost pet services.

Star comes from a high kill shelter in Georgia. Her current Mom fell in love with her little face on the internet and flew from New Jersey to pick her up. Star loves to use her nose to find critters and food. She is doing a great job in training and is definitely living up to her name. Star also loves to run on the beach, get her butt rubbed, and play with her dog pal Jasper and her kitties Sugar and Laddie.

Zeke

Guardian: Kat Albrecht

Zeke, a five-year-old Bloodhound, is in training as a MAR Trailing dog. Zeke was rescued from a shelter in California. He is a confirmed escape artist and has landed in at least two different shelters throughout his lifetime. He loves other dogs and is coming along nicely in his training to track the scent of missing dogs. Zeke has the mind of a guard dog but the voice of a true hound! When he hears the slightest noise outside, he bays and howls and lets his neighbor's know that he is on yard patrol. Because he has separation anxiety, Zeke makes routine visits to a doggy daycare center where he slobbers all over his dog friends!

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