Category: Rainbow Bridge

Hunter was a bundle of energy who couldn’t wait to get to work every day with his handler Billy Monahan, a Captain with the Los Angeles County Fire Department. Because Billy and Hunter were located at an Urban Search and Rescue station, one of only two designated in Los Angeles …

Among the many success stories of High Sierra Animal Rescue in Portola, California is the tale of Zoey, an energetic Border Collie who overcame seemingly insurmountable odds to become a National Disaster Search Dog Foundation Search Dog. Born in July of 2003, Zoey’s owner abandoned her when she was only …

Everyone who has ever met Rico has seen his tremendous potential and had great expectations for this playful Black Labrador. Originally named Recon, he was born into the Guide Dogs of America (GDA) program on December 8, 2006. By the end of 2007, it had been decided that while Recon …

Ellen and Tom Paiva, owners of Broken Arrow Dog Training and long-time SDF volunteers, rescued Jerry in September 2007. The first time Ellen met him she saw past his chunky exterior, recognizing his special “Search Dog spark” and his need to have a job! “When we turned him out, it …

Tanker came to the Search Dog Foundation in an unusual way. Formerly known as “Tank,” this beautiful Lab was donated to the Search Dog Foundation by his previous Handler, Adam Cooper, of Colorado Task Force 1, in the fall of 2011. Adam and Tanker had not yet certified together and …

Bonnie and her sister Clyde, purebred Labrador Retrievers, were born on October 12, 2003.  Although they were littermates, their personalities couldn’t have been more different.  Clyde responded to training, but Bonnie’s future was on thin ice. Bonnie’s owner, Becky Rutledge, feared that Bonnie might ultimately land in a shelter. Bonnie’s …

Charity Carlson had raised service dogs for the disabled for many years. While she loved training service dogs and planned to continue this work, she was looking for something more challenging to do in 2003.  She contacted the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation (SDF) to inquire about becoming a Prep …

Partnered with Eric Hanzelka Monterey County Regional Fire District Oakland, California Task Force 4 (CA-TF4) Donated by: Roxanne Bohn Prep Home: Mary Lippman Sponsors: Diane Wolcott Guardians: Len Hanson, Jamie Kitz Ellie was born on August 9, 2004 and was an eager ball of energy right from the beginning. At just three and a half months, …

Team Info Task Force: Oklahoma Task Force 1 (OKC) Agency: Oklahoma City Fire Level: SUSAR Type I Certified Most Recent Certification: May 27, 2016 Search Dog Info Breed: Black Lab Mix Sex: Male Born: March 26, 2008 Crossed Rainbow Bridge: September 9, 2017 Recruited from: Humane Society of Del Norte – Crescent City, CA Recruited by: Laura Rathe …