K9 Spotlight: Natalie Runge & Everest

Natalie Runge & Everest
Human Remains Detection Search and Rescue

Everest is a one-and-a-half-year-old fox red Labrador, my third SAR dog, and somehow, she still manages to feel like my first in all the best ways. She’s a Human Remains Detection (HRD) dog, trained for wilderness and disaster deployments, and she’s already showing the kind of presence, heart, and grit that can’t be taught, only nurtured.

This path, search and rescue, isn’t something I chose lightly, but it’s something that has chosen me over and over again. Each dog I’ve partnered with has deepened my understanding of the work and of myself. Everest is no exception.

There’s something incredibly grounding about working with her. Everest is intense when she needs to be, laser-focused in her searches, but the moment the work is done, she’s belly-up in the grass, tongue lolling out, pure joy. That duality, driven and silly, disciplined and soulful, makes her a remarkable partner.

As my third SAR dog, Everest carries both legacy and promise. She benefits from everything the dogs before her taught me. Especially about patience, communication, and humility. She reminds me that each partnership is its own story. Our goal together is to be ready: ready for the call no one ever wants to make, ready to offer answers in the worst moments of uncertainty. We train hard because it matters. Because families are waiting. Everest may be young, but she’s already taught me so much: about commitment, about quiet confidence, and about showing up again and again, with open hands and a willing heart. She’s not just my K9 partner. She’s my mirror, my teacher, and my reminder that even in this hard, heartbreaking work, there’s light.

Their Gear: Ray Allen Cobra Buckle Collar and SAR Patch.

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