Natalie is a narcotics detection canine handler in the Auburn area and has been paired with her K9 Ginger since 2018. Ginger has had hundreds of successful K9 deployments and seized millions of narcotics destined for our region. Natalie attended the Michael Ellis School/Ford K9 detection dog trainer course in March 2023 and is currently training drug detection dog teams in the South Sound.

After Ginger sustained a serious injury (or three), Natalie became passionate about canine recovery and fitness. She has taken clinics from Maryna Ozuna and in 2025 became a Certified Canine Fitness Trainer through the University of Tennessee. She continues to seek training opportunities to make her a better handler and trainer; the best so far was Terry Ryan’s chicken camp.

In 2026, Natalie began judging for NACSW and is passionate about helping detection teams of all kinds grow. She has a new puppy named Violet, whom Natalie is training for her own detection job.