Robert (Bob) Calkins has been a search dog handler in Western Washington for more than a decade. He has responded to everything from routine missing persons to major homicide investigations to the tragic 2014 SR 530 Mudslide near Oso, Washington.

Sierra the Search Dog was Bob’s first search dog, and taught him more about humanity than almost any person in his life. Bob’s mission now is to keep her memory alive with stories for children and young readers.

Bob retired from the Washington State Patrol in 2015 to write books and, without a day job, hopefully respond to even more search missions.