No trace of Shtuka after three day dog search

The Canadian Search and Disaster Dogs Association (CASDDA) was in Sun Peaks for three days last week to assist in the search for missing resident Ryan Shtuka.

Shtuka has been missing since the early hours of Feb. 17 when he was last seen at a house party on Burfield Dr. The search effort has been ongoing since his disappearance with help from Kamloops RCMP, Kamloops Search and Rescue and volunteers from the community and his family and friends.

Five scent trained CASDDA dogs and eight handlers started their work in the Burfield Dr. area and expanded outwards but were unable to locate Shtuka.

Search leader Sylvie Montier said the dogs weren’t able to find Shtuka’s scent in any of the areas searched.

“We either find the person or we don’t,” Montier said. “If the family wants us to return in the spring we will.”

Meanwhile volunteer teams continue to look for Shtuka ahead of his twenty first birthday on March 17.

A birthday celebration organized by his family will be held at Masa’s Bar + Grill in Sun Peaks on March 17 starting at 5 p.m.

“It was clear to us that Ryan would have been here celebrating with all of his friends, we want to do the same,” his mother Heather Shtuka wrote in a Facebook event for the party.

Last week a reward offered for information related to the case was raised from $5000 to $15000. A GoFundMe for the family has also raised over $65,000 of a $75,000 goal to support the family and search efforts.

Weather in the next five days is forecasted around -5 degrees with flurries. Volunteers are needed for searching everyday, more information can be found in the MISSING:RYAN SHTUKA Facebook group or on ryanshtuka.com.