Category: <span>SDF Features</span>

Former Search Candidate Ryan Finds True Calling Helping Dad Overcome PTSD

Ryan, a handsome border collie mix, was found roaming the streets in Salt Lake City, UT, and taken to South Salt Lake Animal Services. When no owner came to claim him, he became available for public adoption. Noting his high energy and strong toy drive, shelter staff reached out to SDF …

Changing careers and still changing lives: Meet Rebar

Rebar began life as a service dog trainee with Retrieving Freedom, a nonprofit that places service dogs with disabled veterans and children with autism. (His unique name came from the steel company that sponsored his training at Retrieving Freedom.) While Rebar was still a puppy in a volunteer foster home, …

Topa: Heart of a hero

From October 2020 through August 2021, SDF-trained teams served in ten deployments across California, Louisiana, Nebraska, New York and the island nation of Haiti. While our teams’ missions typically focus on searching for missing persons and survivors after a disaster, the positive impact of their human-canine partnerships extends far beyond …

Holy conservation, Bat-dog! Ptero changes course to help protect bats

Ptero of Rogue Detection Teams Cauldron was picked up as a stray by Animal Care of Davis County in Fruit Heights, UT, when he caught the eye of SDF Recruiter Trevor Lawrence. With his exceptional hunting skills and strong toy drive, Cauldron looked like a great search dog candidate. And …