WAUSAU, Wis. (WSAW) – K-9 units have played a crucial role in the ongoing searches for missing persons in Wisconsin, including the recent case of Martevious Watts. “Wisconsin K9 SOS Search and Rescue” assisted in the search for Watts.

The nonprofit organization operates with a dedicated team of volunteers and their K-9s, responding to calls 24/7, 365 days a year. Their rigorous training prepares the teams to face various weather conditions.

“We train every week, sometimes several times a week, depending on our schedules. If it’s a training day, unless there’s lightning between the sky and the ground, we’re training,” said Rachel Kravitz, president of Wisconsin K9 SOS Search and Rescue.

K-9s are particularly well-suited for searches like Watts’.

“We are very well suited to on-water research, if you need to cover a lot of ground in a short time. Or, let’s say you have someone who you know where they went from and you have a trace,” Kravitz said.

The organization typically receives about 30 to 40 calls per year and responds to about 20 to 30. It is a volunteer unit that does not charge for its services, and not every case is a good fit for its team.

Despite their efforts, K-9s did not locate Watts during a search last week. Authorities are urging anyone with information on his whereabouts to contact the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office.

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