When high drive meets higher purpose: Wildfire rescue dog joins Summit County’s K9 team

Members of the Summit County Sheriff’s Office and Rocky Mountain K9 Rescue celebrate the official adoption of Rocket, a rescued Belgian Malinois now training as the department’s first cadaver dog, during a gathering at the nonprofit’s Park City headquarters. Photo: Rebecca Brenner

PARK CITY, Utah — The Summit County Sheriff’s Office welcomes a new recruit — Rocket, a young Belgian Malinois rescued from California during the Palisades Fires earlier this year. Now adopted by the department, Rocket will begin training as a cadaver dog, thanks to the efforts of Park City-based nonprofit Rocky Mountain K9 Rescue, which helped guide his journey from stray to search-and-rescue partner.

The adoption occurred Wednesday at Rocky Mountain K9 Rescue’s headquarters, where department representatives officially welcomed Rocket to the team.

“This is a huge help for the community,” said Sgt. Chase Schaefer of the Summit County Sheriff’s Office. “A trained dog like Rocket can cost anywhere from $10,000 to $50,000. Having him donated allows those funds to be used for other public safety needs.”

Rocket was one of dozens of dogs rescued during a Rocky Mountain K9 Rescue deployment to California, where the nonprofit responded in the aftermath of the Palisades Fires earlier this year. For David Kitchen, the organization’s founder, Rocket stood out immediately. “He came out like a rocket,” Kitchen said. “He was a stray picked up at a shelter in L.A. County. The second I met him, I knew he would be tough to re-home — not because he’s not great, but because he’s high-drive and needs a job.”

Rocket’s next role will be an important addition to the department’s capabilities.“Cadaver dogs give families peace and closure,” Schaefer said. “In tragic situations like avalanches or when people go missing, time is of the essence. We don’t want to wait for another agency to show up — we want to be ready ourselves.”

Rocket will be the department’s first dog trained specifically for cadaver detection. He joins an expanding team of working dogs trained in narcotics detection, bomb detection, and man-tracking—bringing the total number of K9s in the department to seven.

The traits that make Rocket a challenge in a traditional home are precisely what make him ideal for cadaver work. According to Schaefer, success in this field depends on more than a strong nose.

“They need to be methodical,” he explained. “If we’re searching a field or a buried area, they can’t miss a spot. Rocket has that calm intensity — he’s focused, he’s sharp, and he’s ready to work.”

Training for cadaver detection is rigorous and highly specialized. Rocket will begin right away, with certification expected to take up to six months. But Schaefer believes Rocket’s natural instincts could accelerate that timeline. “He’s already got a lot of the instincts we look for,” Schaefer said. “Once we hone those skills, he’ll be out in the field.”

As with all working dogs in the department, Rocket will live full time with his handler. In this case, that means becoming part of Schaefer’s home and daily life. “We’re with our dogs more than we’re with anyone else,” Schaefer said. “They’re not just tools — they’re partners. But their primary job is to work. And Rocket? He lives to work.”

For Kitchen, who now oversees the care of nearly 40 rescued dogs through his organization, Rocket’s success story reflects a larger mission: helping animals displaced by emergencies find roles where they can thrive. “We’re focused on dogs in emergency situations — wildfires, floods, or people in crisis,” he said. “That includes people going into rehabilitation or women’s shelters who need a safe place for their pets. Rocket was just one of many.”

To continue that work, Rocky Mountain K9 Rescue is hosting a community adoption and rehoming event on April 26, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at its Park City location. The event will include adoptable dogs, vendors, family-friendly activities, and opportunities to donate supplies or volunteer. The nonprofit is specifically seeking high-quality dog food, training gear, and helping hands.

“Rocket is just the beginning,” Kitchen said. “There are so many more dogs that deserve a chance — and could make a real difference.”

For more information about Rocky Mountain K9 Rescue or to get involved, visit their headquarters at 1005 Beehive Drive in Park City or contact them directly.