Ollie (2012 – 2025)

Originally named “Happy,” this cheerful mutt indeed made the search game look like pure joy! He was discovered at the Western Hills Humane Society in Spearfish, SD, by Kellee Matthews of the South Dakota Canine Center in Sturgis. Kellee was visiting the kennel that day because she had been alerted to another dog that might be …

Java (2011 – 2025)

  Java, a one-year-old Plott Hound mix, was picked up as a stray by the Humboldt County Animal Shelter in McKinleyville, CA. During a routine visit to this shelter to help save canine lives, staff from Bones Pet Rescue of Covelo, CA, adopted Java in an attempt to find her …

Geno (2017 – 2025)

Geno’s owner had high hopes for championship titles in the world of field trial competition, but this rambunctious and eager black Labrador was too excited while on the job! Geno could not stop himself from barking in excitement, and his owner knew Geno was just too loud to do well …

Decker (2010 – 2025)

Called “Oscar” at the Sioux Falls Area Humane Society in South Dakota where he was discovered by Tim and Kellee Matthews of the South Dakota Canine Center in late 2012, Decker had already spent nearly seven months in the shelter in the hopes of finding a forever home. Because Decker …

Tanner (2010 – 2025)

Tanner was recruited from the Golden Gate Labrador Retriever Rescue (GGLRR) in San Francisco in December of 2012. Originally discovered starving to death and full of parasites, wandering on a golf course in Salinas, CA, a local woman nursed him back to health before taking him to the rescue. Named …

Merlin (2013 – 2025)

Merlin had been discovered in Northern California in late 2014, wandering the streets near the Oakland Coliseum. He was picked up as a stray and taken to the Oakland Animal Services shelter. No one ever came to claim him and he was not doing well at the shelter. He failed …

Eva (2012 – 2025)

Eva was bred and raised by Southern California resident and canine enthusiast Heather Smith. Over the years, Heather has turned her interest in the natural capabilities of a dog into a passion for agility and tracking training, among other hobbies. In late 2014, due to physical constraints, Heather reached out …

Sadie (2010 – 2024)

A beautiful Black Lab, Sadie’s story is a bit different from our usual SDF recruitment tales. She was discovered by long-time SDF supporter Nona Bauer in La Belle, MO in January 2011. At the time, Sadie was only a few months old and too young to begin Search Dog training …