The DOG

Pet Name: Cedar
Pet Age: 4
Breed: German Shepherd
Weight: 50 lbs
SAR Profile: Search & Rescue - Wilderness, Urban
Favourite Thing: All tug toys and any opportunity to go swimming
Key SAR Skills:
Tracking & Scenting:
Cedar is in training to locate people in wilderness and urban scenarios, through air scenting and tracking.
Agility:
Fast, nimble, and confident in tough terrain.
Calm Under Pressure:
Fearless in new situations, even the helicopter!

The HANDLER

Handler Name: Alicia Pawluk
Favourite Thing:
Training Cedar, exploring remote backcountry, and volunteering with SAR

Cedar's Story

Cedar is a truly special dog -she began her career as an RCMP dog, but was ultimately deemed “too nice” for police work. Thankfully, that gentleness made her the perfect fit for search and rescue. Since 2023, she's been training as a SAR dog, working to help find missing people in the wilderness, and I couldn’t ask for a more dedicated and intuitive partner.

Fun fact: her nickname is "Miss Isle" both for her speed and because we live on Vancouver Island.

Alicia's Story

I joined BC Search and Rescue in late 2018, and have trained in multiple SAR areas, including Swiftwater Rescue, Mountain Rescue and Remote Medicine. Growing up in a household with working dogs, it was inevitable that I would get involved in the BC Search Dog Association. After joining SAR, I was able to shadow experienced dog handlers, and was thrilled in 2023 to get a dog of my own!

Training Approach

We use a toy-based reward system -when Cedar successfully finds a person or article, she gets to dive into a great game of tug. That high-energy reward keeps her motivated and focused. Consistency and positive reinforcement are key.

Why Pets Go Raw?

As a handler, I’m passionate about giving Cedar the best fuel to support her training and missions. We chose Pets Go Raw because we wanted a clean, balanced raw diet that supports Cedar’s active lifestyle. Our goal in SAR is to have dogs who are healthy and strong, who can recover quickly after long SAR outings. Feeding raw helps us meet those goals!

-Alicia