Meet Kato, the search and rescue K-9 of the Smokies

When there’s a search and rescue situation in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Kato the Backcountry Search & Rescue (BUSAR) K-9 is on the job.

Montana native Ben Landkammer got Kato nearly two years ago while taking search and rescue courses in Florida, with the last one involving training up a puppy. Landkammer was paired with an 8-week-old solid black German Shepherd, and the duo has been working together in the Knoxville area ever since.