
MEMBERS

Chief Diane Butterfield & K9s Deacon, taboo and odin
Chief Diane Butterfield has been involved in Search and Rescue since 2003 and has proudly served as Chief of Northstar Search and Rescue since 2010. She works alongside her K9 partners Deacon, Taboo, and Odin, all certified in Tracking/Trailing and Human Remains Detection (HRD). Chief Diane and her K9s specialize in both land and water searches, bringing years of experience and dedication to helping locate missing individuals.

Captain Joan Dansky & K9s Scout, Rufio and Flash
Joan has been a dedicated member of Northstar Search and Rescue since 2018, bringing passion, experience, and determination to every search. Alongside her three certified K9 partners, she is prepared to tackle a variety of challenging search environments. K9 Scout and K9 Flash specialize in Tracking/Trailing, while K9 Rufio is certified in land and water HRD.

Lisa Meadows & K9 Thunder
Lisa joined Northstar in 2018.
K9 Thunder is certified in Tracking/Trailing. Lisa has a B.S. in meteorology and provides forecasts for Northstar training and searches. Lisa is also an EMT.

Tom Holt & K9s Gigi, Bella and Charlie
Tom joined Northstar in 2023.
K9 Gigi is certified in land and water HRD. K9 Bella is certified in land and water HRD as well as Area Live Find.

Alyssa Rorvick & K9 Cody and Jango
Alyssa joined Northstar in 2026. During the day she is a professional dog groomer, and she is dedicated to helping her community. Alyssa is currently training to become a K9 Handler

Deputy Chief Ross Butterfield & K9 Taboo
Deputy Chief Ross joined Northstar in 2011. K9 Taboo is certified in Tracking/Trailing as well as land and water HRD.

Lieutenant TJ Lawrence & K9 Raven
TJ joined Northstar in 2021. He is a Certified Field Tech, Certified Diver, EMT and is a boat and sonar operator. TJ is in charge of the Dive team.
K9 Raven is certified in Human Remains Detection (HRD).

Leslie Holt & K9s Bella, Gigi, and Charlie
Leslie has been active with Search and Rescue since 2017 and joined Northstar in 2023. K9 Bella is certified in land and water HRD, as well as, Area Live Find. K9 Gigi is certified in land and water HRD.

Elise Strauman & K9 Nova
Elise joined Northstar in 2025.
K9 Nova is certified in Tracking/Trailing.

Matt Brodin
Matt joined Northstar in 2023. He is a boat and sonar operator, as well as a recovery diver.

Captain Heath & K9s Cinder, Sophie, Penny and Henna
Heath joined Northstar in 2016.
K9 Cinder is certified in Tracking/Trailing and Area Search. K9 Sophie is certified in both land and water HRD. K9 Penny is certified in Tracking/Trailing. K9 Henna is training for HRD. Additionally, Heath is a boat and sonar operator, drone pilot and EMT.

Sergeant Michelle Jensen
Michelle joined Northstar in 2022. She is a Certified Field Tech, boat and sonar operator and is proficient at Base Operations.

Nick Houge & K9s Liberty and Hope
Nick joined Northstar in 2019.
K9s Hope and Libby are certified in land and shoreline HRD.

Abygail Larsen & K9 Franklin
Abygail joined Northstar Search and Rescue in 2026. She previously worked with explosive detection K9s in the United States Air Force, assisting in over five Secret Service missions. She is proficient in teaching and is currently training alongside K9 Franklin.

Tyler Brodin
Tyler joined Northstar in 2023. He is a boat and sonar operator, as well as a recovery diver.
Meet the K9s

Deacon
Human Remains Detection (HRD)and Tracking
Deacons journey began in 2019, and he’s now a nationally certified dual-purpose K9, specializing in both trailing and cadaver detection. Deacon has a remarkable talent for locating missing individuals and continues to excel in his mission. When he finds his person, his handler rewards him with his favorite squeaky ball, making his work as enjoyable as it is impactful.

Astor
Human Remains Detection (HRD) and Evidence
Astor takes his job seriously,
with his highly trained nose,
he has been able to bring
closure to many families. After a hard day's work, Astor loves to play with his
squeaky ball or a good game of tug. Dogs
do speak, but only to those who listen.

Cinder
Tracking
Cinder is a Tracking/Area dog that works hard to find people that are missing. She gets an article that has the persons scent on it, picks up the scent then she runs to try and find them. Her reward for a find is freeze dried liver! k9 Cinder loves food, playing tug and getting attention from people. Look out for sloppy dog kisses.

Odin
HRD and Tracking
K9 Odin's journey is one of incredible strength, resilience, and determination. Just weeks old and smaller than a squirrel, Odin was found abandoned in a ditch during a search operation in Devils Lake, North Dakota. Rescued by law enforcement and placed in the care of a Search and Rescue K9 handler, Odin was given a second chance at life.
What began as a fight for survival has turned into a life of purpose. Odin's natural drive and determination have helped him become a certified Search and Rescue K9 in both Tracking/Trailing and Human Remains Detection (HRD).

Taboo
Tracking and Human Remains Detection (HRD)
Taboo is a British Lab who is small in stature but makes up for it in her enthusiasm for the job. She is a nationally certified tracking K9 whose job is finding lost people. Her happy personality wins the hearts of all those she meets.

Scout
Tracking
Scout is trained to use her highly efficient sense of smell to track a specific human scent. Scout is always ready to work, with her nose to the ground she wastes no time to find those in need. Scout loves a good game of fetch with her favorite ball.

Sophie
Human Remains Detection (HRD)
Sophie works to find people that have passed away. Once she finds these people she will sit and wait for her reward which is a squeaky ball. Sophie can smell remains on the ground, in the ground and
In the water. When she is not working she loves to play fetch and run through the woods with her sister

Penny
Tracking
Penny is a tracking dog that works hard to find missing people. she uses her nose to track the person's specific scent. K9 Penny loves her job especially since there is beef liver at the end, which is her favorite thing ever! She loves food, playing tug and getting attention from people. Just watch out for her sloppy kisses and her big toothy smile.

Bella
Area Live Find and Human Remains Detection (HRD)
When Bella searches area Live Find she plays tag with handler Leslie and guides her to the lost person. When Bella searches HRD she lays down and waits for Leslie. Bella loves frisbees and swimming.
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Flash
Tracking
Flash is a Bloodhound certified in tracking: with his nose, wrinkles and ears, he is able to pick a specific human scent and find the missing person bringing families back together. His rewards are pets, love and of course liver treats.
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Gigi
Human Remains Detection (HRD)
Gigi helps to bring closure to families of missing loved ones. She loves her job and wants to go to work every day. Gigi's favorite toys are tugs and frisbees. After a search Gigi is rewarded with ice Cream.
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Rufio
Human Remains Detection (HRD)
Rufio is a Pudelpointer certified in human remains detection (HRD) on land and water. With his no-nonsense attitude, he is always ready to work to bring closure to families with missing loved ones. Rufio's favorite reward is a Kong Squeaky Ball which he loves to play fetch with.

Hope
Human Remains Detection (HRD)
Hope helps bring closure to families with missing loved ones. Hope loves to play with her sister Libby and brother Mason. Her favorite toys are tugs and tennis balls. At the end of a search, she looks forward to her favorite treat - hot dogs.

Liberty
Human Remains Detection (HRD)
Liberty helps bring closure to families with missing loved ones. Liberty loves to play with her sister Hope and brother Mason. Her favorite toys are tugs and tennis balls. At the end of a search, she looks forward to her favorite treat - hot dogs.

Nova
Tracking
Nova is driven by her incredible nose to follow the specific scent of a human, piecing together the invisible puzzle of where someone has been. She thrives on the challenge, bounding with excitement as she works and celebrating each success with her favorite reward – turkey! With her boundless energy and unstoppable hops, Nova shows just how much she loves both the job and the joy of a job well done.
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Raven
Human Remains Detection (HRD)
Raven is a Plott Hound rescue from Texas who now plays an important role in search and rescue. She is certified in land and water Human Remains Detection (HRD) and works tirelessly to help bring closure to families in need. Outside of work, Raven loves spending time outdoors with people. Her favorite pastime is going straight for the squeaker in any stuffed toy she can get her paws on.
