Cole (2012 – 2026)

  Originally named “Bouncer,” this handsome Black Labrador was recruited from El Dorado County Animal Services in Placerville, CA. Upon being contacted about Bouncer’s potential, SDF staff called on long-time supporter and volunteer Penny Woodruff, who lived in that area, to help with his evaluation. Penny reported back that “he did well …

Keila (2013 – 2026)

  In 2015, SDF Canine Recruiter Kirsten Fulk was visiting shelters in her native Oregon to seek out homeless dogs that might have a future as urban disaster search dogs and hit the jackpot when she stopped at Brightside Animal Shelter in Redmond, OR. Kirsten explained, “The behaviorist at Brightside …

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 …