Team Info
Task Force: Nebraska Task Force 1
Level: Certified
Search Dog Info
Breed: Labrador Retriever/Plott Hound Mix
Sex: Male
Born: March 12, 2022
Recruited from Save A Stray, City of Mobile Animal Services
Recruited by Rachel Leard
Sponsors: Farmers Insurance, M. Lawrence Lallande & Nicole Lallande
Laura Denison is a veteran SDF handler who deployed numerous times with Nebraska Task Force 1 with her canine partner Flyer, who retired in 2025. After Flyer’s career concluded, Laura sought to partner with another SDF-trained dog, and Search Dog Red ultimately decided that Laura was his perfect match.
Laura went into emergency response because she wanted to make a positive impact on her community, especially during disaster situations. She focused on canine handling because she enjoys the bond of working with a driven dog towards a common goal, especially in high-pressure situations. Laura says that Red stood out to her right away because of his high energy and drive. “His agility and footing are outstanding,” Laura says, and his smaller size also stood out. “He’s very physical and can jump as high as any big dog, but his size makes him more versatile.”
Laura recalls hoping to be partnered with Red during a two-victim search on the rubble pile. “He was so excited to work with me and for me,” she says. “His search was great, and we definitely connected.”
On October 18, 2025, Laura got her wish when she was officially paired with Red!
Laura achieved her first goal of FEMA certification in February 2026 in Phoenix, AZ. The team is now active on Nebraska Task Force 1’s roster and ready to deploy in their community, as well as nationwide, when called upon. “I’m looking forward to watching his experience grow and having him help during disaster situations,” Laura says.
Another cutie found as a stray, Red was placed with the City of Mobile Animal Shelter in Alabama before being transferred to Save a Stray Rescue, also in Alabama. Coincidentally, an SDF canine recruiter was fostering Red and noticed he had an insatiable desire to play with every single toy he found, so she decided to take him out to a rubble pile to see how he would do. Red traversed the rubble like a pro and earned a spot in our program.
Although Red is on the smaller side, he has a “big boy” bark and quickly learned the bark alert. His high drive and love for engagement excited his trainers about his future as a potential Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) canine, and he rewarded their enthusiasm by excelling in search. He quickly progressed to three-barrel and small-barrel field searches, where he had no issue letting us know where the hidden person was with his bellowing bark!
Red loves to work, and he will let you know he is ready with a strong bark and a gleeful leap into the air! Red has the most endearing, goofy personality, and his signature move is weaving in and out of his trainer’s legs while getting scratches.
We are glad that Laura and Red make such a great team and look forward to watching their partnership and careers blossom!