Tracy "Trace" Sargent is the Owner and Director of STAR K9, LLC.  Below is Trace's credentials to give you and your family assurance that your beloved dog will receive the best care and training from an experienced professional dog handler, trainer and evaluator with over 20 years of experience.  Trace has spent her life dedicated to providing dogs with a high quality of life, and families and individuals with naturally balancedTM happy dogs.

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K9 EXPERIENCE

 

Over 18 years of experience with basic and advanced levels of obedience and agility, and K9 operations involving high threat missions, law enforcement call-outs, and search, rescue and recovery events

 

 

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Handler, trainer and evaluator for tracking/trailing, area search, cadaver and disaster dog teams for local, state and international teams – SWAT, LE, Fire Dept., SAR, Task Forces, etc.

 

Handler for explosives detection dogs (bomb dogs) for international protective security VIP/diplomatic missions

 

 

Evaluator for “Canine Good Citizen" Program

 

 

POST Certified Trainer and Evaluator

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Approved K9 Resource for Missing Children Events

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Member of Federal Level Task Force

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Member of State Level Task Force

 

Search Team Manager for local, state and national level events

 

 

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K9 partners licensed and certified at local, state, national and international levels

 

Type I canine resource in tracking/trailing, area search and HRD, and Type II canine resource for disaster recovery work. 

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Requested to assist in over 900 searches with K9 partners in the United States and international missions.  Tested and evaluated over 350 dog teams.

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Have searched for and located numerous lost and missing persons (including fugitives, runaways, Alzheimer’s, suicide, homicide, disaster victims, airplane crashes, etc.) and high threat level missions (terrorists/bombs)

 

 

Have been requested in numerous searches from local to international levels.  Some high profile cases we have been requested to assist with include:  The Runaway Bride, Eric Rudolph, Hurricane Katrina, Natalie Holloway, Tara Grinstead, Theresa Parker, Lauren Giddings, Sugar Plant Explosion (Savannah, GA), Tuscaloosa, Alabama Tornado, Stand-by for 9/11 Terrorist Attacks, Military Plane Crash (Unadilla, GA)

 

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Previous Positions Held: 

 

​Regional Representative for PAWS With a Cause Special Needs Service Dogs

 

Tested and evaluated first PAWS service dogs in Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia

Member of the State Urban Search and Rescue K9 Sub-committee

 

Southeastern Rep for the State Urban Search and Rescue K9 Sub-committee

 

Search Team Manager for State of Georgia Search, Rescue, Recovery K9 Teams

 

 

 

Trainer and Evaluator for Georgia Body Recovery Team K9 Unit

 

K9 Team Leader for the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Georgia Body Recovery Team

 

K9 Program Director for the State of Georgia for HRD and USAR K9 Teams

 

​K9 team leader during Hurricane Katrina disaster

 

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AWARDS

 

First licensed search and rescue dog in the State of Georgia

 

First cadaver/HRD dog team for the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Georgia Body Recovery Team

 

First disaster recovery dog team fully trained, tested and certified for disaster operations in the State of Georgia (over 1,000 hours of training and certification)

 

Developed and Instructor for Outstanding Innovative Adult Training Program for the State of Georgia (Search and Rescue Training Program) ​

 

K9 partners inducted into Georgia Animal Hall of Fame

 

Nominated for Governor’s Public Safety Awards

 

Golden Rule Award Finalist

 

John Herbert Phillips Award For Promoting and Teaching Kindness and Compassion to Animals

 

Cherokee County Commendation Award for Citizen’s Merit Award for Excellence

 

Living Your Legacy Award Winner

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MOVIES / TV / PRESENTATIONS

 

The Way Home  (True Story Played Myself - Movie)

 

The Past Life (My dog portrayed as family dog - TV Series)

 

It’s All About the Dog  (Endorsed Dog Show - Documentary)

 

Nancy Grace Show  (Subject Matter Expert - Talk Show)

 

CNN Headline News (Subject Matter Expert – Talk Show)

 

In Session (Subject Matter Expert – Talk Show)

 

The Dog Talk Show (Subject Matter Expert – Talk Show)

 

World News Tonight with Diane Sawyer (News Show)

 

48 Hours: Hard Evidence TV Show

 

Associated Press (articles, pictures and videos about me and my dog were sent worldwide)

 

USA Today

 

Wall Street Journal

 

New York Times

 

LA Times

 

Featured in Atlanta Dog Life Magazine

 

Southern Living Magazine

 

Featured in other numerous newspapers, magazines and radio shows

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​DEGREES

 

Masters of Science in Public Health

 

Bachelors of Science in General Studies

 

Associates of Science in Law

 

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LICENSES/CERTIFICATIONS

 

Secret Security Clearance Level (Final)

 

Certified Law Enforcement Officer

 

Forensic Sketch Artist Certification

 

World Protective Services Certified

 

Glock 40 and M4 Weapons Qualified

 

Current U.S. Passport

 

 

POST Certified Instructor

 

NIMS Certified Instructor (100, 200, 300 and 400 levels)

 

Certified Canine Search Specialist

 

Master Trainer and Evaluator (Basic to Advanced Levels)

 

Search and Rescue Trainer, Evaluator and Instructor (Basic to Advanced Levels)

 

K9 Medic Certification

Animal Care Specialist

 

Incident Command System Instructor

 

Licensed Firefighter

 

Licensed Emergency Medical Technician

 

Certified Structural Collapse Technician

 

Certified Emergency Program Manager

 

Certified Mantracker

 

HAM Radio Operator

 

Over 100 Other Certifications – Public Safety and K9 Training

 

 

 

 

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Over 20 years of professional experience