This Dog is a Search-and-Rescue Master | Speaking of Pets episode 89 - Dr. Kim Stewart Take 2

⚠️ Content note: brief discussion of human remains and a child fatality (marked in the chapter guide).

By listener request, we're re-releasing one of our most talked-about episodes. Veterinarian Dr. Kim Stewart, DVM joins us to share how she and her Labrador Retriever, Seamus, train and deploy as a human remains detection (HRD) K9 team—what it takes to certify, stay safe in the field, and work seamlessly with law enforcement from local sheriffs to the FBI and Texas Rangers.

You’ll hear how Seamus’ fitness plan (pool sprints, core “planks,” balance work, laser therapy) keeps him mission-ready; why chain of command matters in disasters; and how teams are vetted on orienteering, clue awareness, ICS, and the wilderness pack test. Dr. Stewart breaks down screening traits for great SAR dogs (toy drive, hunt drive, nerve strength, neutrality), what goes in a handler’s pack, and why overheating is the #1 risk for working dogs.

Dr. Stewart also recounts a difficult but pivotal case Seamus helped solve, and we discuss the ethics around emotional support animal misuse—not to punish pets, but to protect true service teams and public safety.

What you’ll learn

- How HRD dogs are trained to alert without disturbing crime scenes

- The realities of multi-agency searches, from wilderness to water hazards

- The fitness, recovery, and injury-prevention routines that keep K9s working longer

- Quick tests to spot potential SAR talent in young dogs

- Why documentation (GPS, records) matters—right up to the courtroom

- A vet’s take on ESA vs. service dog rules and real-world impacts

Chapter guide

0:00 Re-release intro & meet Seamus

2:10 Why SAR (vs. agility/dock diving) & joining a team

4:45 Certifications: NASAR, ICS, swift-water awareness

7:00 HRD training: pairing odor → active alert (bark & hold)

9:20 Mentorship, screening dogs, “toy drive” & hunt tests

20:40 Handler pack, K9 first aid, heat risk & water logistics

⚠️ 23:55 Field realities & processing tough scenes

24:58 Case study: Seamus’ courtroom-validated find

27:50 Fitness/fuel: Pro Plan Sport, produce snacks, conditioning

28:55 Pet peeve: ESA misuse & why it harms access for true service teams

31:20 Longevity, retirement, and what’s next for Seamus

Why we’re re-releasing: New listeners keep asking how SAR dogs really work—this conversation remains one of our clearest, most practical deep dives.

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All footage is owned by SLA Video Productions.