Cairn Canine Detection

01/11/2025

Our Cairn Canine Detection team spent a fascinating morning with Melissa Chapman, Caretaker at the Snohomish Woodlawn Cemetery, followed by training in the “green section - natural burials. One of the interesting facts she shared, in addition to educating us about various types of burials, was that bodies often were buried with a bell tied to the hand. Want to find out why?

01/07/2025

Another project we participated in.

01/05/2025

Kili, Guy and Suzanne had a great time this morning at the Edmonds Library doing a presentation to the Peter Puget DAR Chapter on how we train and deploy our historically trained human remains detection dogs. This group was especially interested in the work we do supporting old cemetery restorations by finding unmarked graves. Extra plus that my neighbor Victoria Lewin was in attendance. Thank you Trish for inviting us.

01/03/2025

It is rewarding to have clients that appreciate the work we do with our historically trained human remains detection dogs finding the voices of ancestors. "Many thanks to you and your dogs. You have helped us confirm locations needed to place our new headstones properly in the family plots." Marion (Mick) Hersey, Historical Memorial Preservationist

12/29/2024

Thank you for being part of our journey. Cheers to an amazing New Year!

12/21/2024

Another dream realized. 2024 has been an amazing year for Cairn Canine Detection with many days of pro bono projects ranging from locating unmarked burials of long lost children at a Native American boarding school, a large closed down "insane asylum," as well as multiple preservation projects at old cemeteries and more. We are also grateful to have been able to support the Wa State Truth and Reconciliation Council and MMIWP efforts, including the first Cold Case Unit dedicated to murdered and missing indigenous women and people.

Wishing everyone a joyful holiday season and a bright and happy New Year!

12/20/2024

Wishing everyone a joyful holiday season and a bright and happy New Year!

12/19/2024

We were honored to help Mick Hersey and his team with the Bethel Cemetery historic preservation project today. Our dogs had 66 alerts, 44 of which were corroborations of alerts of other dogs. Mick shared the plot map, history of the cemetery and how he makes news gravestones using lime rocks from the old Bremerton Harrison Hospital. Interesting stuff. We will be back.

12/16/2024

Sometimes we work interiors. Kili loves it.

12/12/2024

So this is how Scott and I spent 4 hours today. I am up to speed on all SAR training requirements, including Furst Aud and CPR. Wohoo!

12/11/2024

Awesome article. Congrats Kim and team.

As First Nations communities continue to hone in on possible unmarked graves at the sites of former residential schools, some are now using human remains detection dogs to assist in that effort.

12/10/2024

A nice article about one of the probono cemetery restoration projects we are involved with

12/03/2024

It’s – a global day of giving! Your donations support our unique work with dogs specially trained in Historical Human Remains Detection. We continue our work of searching for unmarked graves in historical cemeteries, Native American Boarding Schools and clandestine locations. We couldn’t do it without you!

Donate: https://bit.ly/4fMWunn

11/09/2024

11/09/2024

K9s Torr and Kili got to work green graves this week. This cemetery also has some very old graves and has been managed by the same family for generations and has a caretaker eager to share the history and knowledge of all the graves. Special bonus: a beautiful residential “chickie.”

11/05/2024

Yakima Herald reporter Tammy Ayer is passionate about researching the history of Fort Simcoe and published an article today which also describes the work Cairn Canine Detection with our HHRD (historical human remains detection) K9s are doing in support of Archaelogist Jon Shellenbergers Project to find unmarked graves of the children that attended this Native American boarding school between 1860 and 1920. Our K9 teams recently concluded a forth search, day seven and eight. A report will be submitted to the Yakama Nation Tribal Council in 2025. https://www.yakimaherald.com/news/local/searches-for-unmarked-graves-at-fort-simcoe-narrow-focus-areas/article_df668b3a-8fd2-11ef-978a-dfa04b9e82d6.html

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Volunteers with the canine detection nonprofit have visited Fort Simcoe four times over two years to search for unmarked historic graves. The lead archaeologist plans to submit a final report