Kili has been training for HHRD work since he was a puppy and now, at seven years old, brings an intensity and enthusiasm that are unmistakable in the field. Spirited, intense, and equipped with seemingly endless stamina, he can work long days while staying completely locked into the odor picture.

 Kili is certified in both HHRD and SAR HRD for historical and cold-case investigations and has deployed on numerous projects. When the harness comes out he flips instantly from happy Labrador to highly focused detection machine—though the wagging tail suggests he still thinks the whole thing is the greatest game ever invented. 

Kulla is the youngster of the team, born in 2025, and by far the most naturally trainable dog I have ever worked with. She approaches training with laser focus and the kind of motivation trainers dream about. From the beginning she has been trained specifically to detect old human remains odor and to work an area methodically and thoughtfully.

 She is currently preparing for HHRD and historical cold-case work, and if early signs are any indication, she intends to take the job very seriously. Kulla may be the baby of the crew, but she is already working like a professional in the making. 

In Memoriam

Keb was the dog who started it all. CCD’s first Historical Human Remains Detection dog and the first to be certified in the discipline, she worked with the quiet seriousness of someone who understood that the work mattered. In 2022 she was honored nationally with the American Humane Hero Dog Award, though she carried the title with typical Keb humility—far more interested in the scent trail than the spotlight. 

Her career included many HHRD deployments, with her final mission assisting in the investigation at the Fort Simcoe Boarding School. Keb was my heart dog: steady, thoughtful, and utterly devoted to helping the forgotten be found. 

Keb is the main character in an award-winning bestseller memoir authored by our team members Suzanne Elshult and Guy Mansfield:  A Dog's Devotion: True Adventures of a K9 Search and Rescue Team.