Mat+SAR K9

MATSAR would like to thank all the volunteers who came out to assist in this search, helping to lead to a happy and succesful conclusion!

AST Daily Dispatch
AK24060482
Location: Wasilla
Type: Silver Alert - Missing Person
Dispatch Text:

UPDATE: On June 23, 2024, at approximately 1:00pm, searchers located Theresa Ortega alive, and she is being evaluated by emergency medical personnel. Search efforts have concluded.

On June 22, 2024, at 3:30pm, Alaska State Troopers received a report of a missing person from a residence on Pearl Rd. in Wasilla. A family member reported that 89-year-old Theresa Ortega was missing from the residence. Theresa is described as a white female 5’1 inch tall, 159 lbs. wearing blue jeans and tennis shoes. AST did not locate Theresa during initial search and a Silver Alert was issued. She was last seen on 6/22/2024 at approximately 3:25pm. Contact Matcom Dispatch with any information at 907-352-5401. To submit a tip via text message, text AKTIPS and your tip to 847411. You can also provide information anonymously through the AKTips smartphone app.

Posted on 6/22/2024 8:03:17 PM by DPS\tjdespain

It is with great sadness that we share the passing of one of our most experienced K9s, 'MakPik', aka 'Mak'. From the early days of us hiding behind trees for the 'Mak'truck to find us, to the days of him making finds of lost loved ones with his handler Lisa Jaeger, Mak will always be remembered as the dog who loved every day and everyone. You've left a huge hole in our team and in our hearts Mak. Run free over the Rainbow Bridge and chase toys and birds to your heart's content. You will be forever missed but never forgotten. Search on buddy! 🐾🌈💔

MATSAR had a busy Saturday providing medical support to the Government Peak Mountain Run and teaching the public about SAR in Alaska at the Wasilla Block Party. Thanks to all who came out to support these events!

Please join us in wishing K9 Khüla a very Happy Birthday today! 🎂🐾❤️ 🎈🎉🎊 Khüla is a beautiful 3 year old village special who is always eager to train and search with her handler Charity House. Charity and Khüla are training in Trailing search and hoping to certify this year, while also cross training in water and avalanche search. Charity and Khüla are becoming a great asset to our team!
Thank you 'Dog Team 4' for your dedication to our community and beyond!

MATSAR spent this beautiful Alaskan day conducting a joint training with the Butte FD. Thanks to all who participated!

Please join us in congratulating Dog Team 2, Mark Stigar and K9 Lyra, for completing their Airscent Search recertification evaluation this past weekend. Thank you to Mark and Lyra for all the hard work it takes to keep those skills honed!

Please join us in wishing K9 Mak a very Happy 13th Birthday today! 🎂🐾❤️ 🎈🎉🎊 Mak is our most senior dog, but age is just a number to him! He is still eager to run, play, and see his friends with his handler Lisa Jaeger. Mak and Lisa are certified in the Wilderness Airscent and Land Cadaver, and are cross trained in water and avalanche search. Thank you K9 Mak and Lisa for your dedication to our community and beyond!

Please join us in wishing K9 Raven a very Happy Birthday today! 🎂🐾❤️ 🎈🎉🎊 Raven is a 5 year old GSD who is always eager to hike, run, skijor, and search with her handler Lindsay Cronin. Raven and Lindsay are certified in wilderness airscent search and cadaver, and are cross training in trailing, water, and avalanche search. Thank you Raven and Lindsay for your dedication to our community and beyond!

Please join us in wishing K9 Lyra a very Happy (one-day belated) Birthday! 🎂🐾❤️ 🎈🎉🎊 Lyra, and her handler Mark Stigar, are certified and ready to deploy on wilderness, land and water cadaver, and avalanche missions. Together, they have devoted years of training and searching to help locate missing loved ones in Alaska and also spend a significant time training others throughout Alaska in SAR methods, with Lyra demonstrating the value of SAR dogs firsthand. Thank you to Lyra and Mark for their dedication to our community and beyond!

MATSAR hosted a SAR Academy in Kodiak, AK, from April 18 through the 22nd. MATSAR members Mark Stigar and Brent Taylor led 16 students from Kodiak Search and Rescue through numerous SAR techniques and skills during the 4-day course. Thank you to all who attended!

Please join us in congratulating Susan Whiton and K9 Temple, and Stacie Burkhardt and K9 Myka, for completing their Airscent Search recertification evaluations this past weekend. Thank you to both teams for all the hard work it takes to keep those skills honed!

Please join us in wishing K9 Myka a very Happy Birthday today! 🎂🐾❤️ 🎈🎉🎊

Myka, and her handler Stacie Burkhardt, have devoted years of training, mentoring, and searching with MAT+SAR to help locate missing loved ones here in Alaska and beyond. Myka is trained in wilderness area search, land and water cadaver, avalanche, and evidence searches. When not on a search, Myka enjoys hiking in the woods, finding squirrels, playing tug with her brother K9 Rocco, and, during the long Alaska winters, wondering why there aren't such things as doggy snowshoes and ice skates.

Thank you 'Dog Team 9(M)' for your dedication to our community and beyond!

Last week, several members of MATSAR visited the Next Generations Child Development Center as part of their March Safety Month. In addition to meeting some of our K9 companions, the children got to learn about search and rescue in Alaska, including what they should do if they get lost. Thanks to MATSAR members Stacie and K9 Rocco, Mark and K9 Lyra, and Lisa and K9 Mak for being part of this great event!

MATSAR spent this past weekend conducting our annual Mel Nading Avalanche Workshop in Hatcher Pass. The weather was warm, snow was good, and dogs and handlers gained some great avalanche experience.

MATSAR would especially like to thank Stacie for organizing the workshop, Lisa for ensuring everyone was fed delicious lunches, JAG and Mark for holding down base, Paul, Rick, and Al for ferrying volunteers and handlers up and down the mountain on snowmachines, Heather and Josh for their excellent instruction, and all the volunteers who came out and spent time in snow caves or burying snow caves so the K9s could gain realistic avy training. Thank you to everyone for your support for this important training!

MATSAR would like to wish K9 Duke a very happy first birthday! Duke is the newest member of the MATSAR K9 family and has been hard at work learning the ropes of search and rescue with his handler Jason. He even spent his first birthday practicing his avalanche rescue skills at our Mel Nading Avalanche Workshop. Happy birthday Duke!🎂🎁🐾

Looking for something to do this weekend? Want to spend time outside and be "rescued" by a search and rescue dog?

Join MATSAR for our Annual Mel Nading Avalanche Rescue Workshop!

We will be basing at the Gold Mint parking lot in Hatcher Pass and training on the hillside right there (snow machine ride up the hill included!).

The workshop will run Friday, March 22 from 12 - 4 PM, Saturday, March 23 from 10 AM - 3 PM, and Sunday, March 24 from 10 AM - 4 PM. Join us for part of one day, all three days, or anything in between! Lunch will be provided on Saturday and Sunday.

Volunteers are needed to hide in snow caves for SAR dogs to find/dig out, so comfort in small places is needed. Children are welcome but must be accompanied by an adult. Safety is our top priority and safety personnel will be stationed adjacent to all active snow caves.

If interested, contact us on FB messenger or via email at [email protected] .

Several members of MATSAR spent this past week volunteering their time as medical support for the Arctic Winter Games. MATSAR supported events such as skiing, futsal, and snowshoe racing, making sure all competitors had a safe environment for competing. Thanks to all the volunteers who dedicated their time to help make this event a success!

With the unusual weather we've been having lately, its always good to remember to be avalanche aware when recreating in areas with potential avalanche risk.

Here's a good video explaining the conditions leading to a recent avalanche on the Kenai Peninsula: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUECLVHYieM

If you plan on winter recreating in the backcountry, be sure to check local resources and warnings.

The Chugach National Forest Avalanche Information Center (https://www.cnfaic.org/) and Hatcher Pass Avalanche Center (https://hpavalanche.org/) provide avalanche forecast for certain areas in and around Anchorage and the Mat-Su valley.

Stay safe out there while enjoying all winter has to offer!

John Mountain, Summit Lake Zone, February 14, 2024 We toured up to John Mountain today to investigate an avalanche accident that occurred yesterday afternoon, February 13. The weak layer is the layer of facet...

Yesterday, MATSAR conducted a nighttime Joint Training at Central Fire Department Station 6-2 with the Alaska State Defense Force and Alaska Solstice Search K9 Team. The exercise scenario was an earthquake with subjects in training towers and the surrounding area. K9 teams conducted searches with medical support, who then attended to subjects' "medical conditions." MATSAR also trained with its drone to gain experience with its thermal and video capabilities at night. Great training for all!

Good evening Alaskan supporters of MATSAR! Looking for a way to support our organization? Consider donating to MATSAR through Pick.Click.Give when you complete your PFD application.

MATSAR Search and Rescue is a non-profit organization located in the Matanuska Valley. We are a group of dedicated volunteers serving our neighbors by being trained, certified and ready to respond to emergency situations 24/7 with up-to-date and advanced searching techniques.

MATSAR has trained and qualified volunteer responders in several disciplines: Ground Search, K9 Teams, Medical, and certified ATV and Snowmachine operators. All of our volunteers buy and maintain their own personal equipment, vehicles, and animals out of their own pocket. MATSAR also maintains a large inventory of additional equipment, medical supplies, and safety gear needed for every type of search, such as wilderness, avalanche, water, urban areas, and disaster scenes.

Your donations help provide valuable training and additional equipment to these volunteers. The training is constantly evolving as there are always improvements in the way a search can be conducted. This training is often available only from qualified professional that must be brought up from outside the state.

All donations are tax deductible, and donors will receive tax documentation from the State once their donations have been processed. Permanent Fund Dividend applications are available from January 1 to March 31.

Already completed your application but still want to participate? You may choose to add or adjust your pledge online through August 31.

Thank you all for your support! It allows us to be prepared and ready to respond 24/7.

K9s and motorized joined forces for a fun ride out of Petersville this past weekend. A few weeks late for the pretty fall colors, but fun was had by all. (especially those 'under cover' during the rain!)

Thanks to those who braved the weather to do some exploring!

A busy day for the K9 Teams and support at the Scouts Jamboree-on-the-Air (JOTA) this weekend at Camp Gorsuch in Chugiak. The scouts and cub scouts visited stations all over the camp, learning several skills throughout the day. We talked about how we train our search dogs and many of them got to be found by one! Thank you to everyone who makes this event possible every year!

Another great opportunity to network with the community at the Old Town Autumn Fest in Wasilla this past weekend. Mother nature tested our wind and rain resistance, but the MAT+SAR booth survived it all! Thank you to Maxx Stacey, Paul Scott, Lindsay Cronin/K9 Raven, Jason Williams/K9 Jaxx, Charity House/K9 Khüla, and Stacie Burkhardt/K9s Myka & Rocco, for teaching our constant flow of visitors about the resources we provide to help locate lost and missing loved ones.

This last weekend brought a 4 day Search and Rescue academy sponsored by MAT+SAR to the NOLS Farm in Palmer. Attendees got to learn the ins and outs of search and rescue operations involving ground and K9 teams. Thank you to everyone who instructed and participated in this Fall Academy!

It's been a busy couple weeks for the MAT+SAR Team! First, an action packed Emergency Expo day at the Curtis D. Menard Memorial Sports Center! We had a great location near our best buds the Matsu Borough Water Rescue Team, and were able to demonstrate finding around 50 'lost' children in one day with our Airscent and Trailing dog teams. We'd like to thank everyone who stopped by to get lost for the dogs and learn about what our team does for the community.