April 6 to 7, Search Teams gathered at our National Training Center (NTC) for the second in a series of weekend training sessions designed specifically for SDF-trained teams, instructed by SDF trainers. Visiting from other parts of California, as well as Nebraska, Oklahoma and Utah, a dozen Canine Search …
Congratulations to the Canine Disaster Search Teams who achieved Certification in April! On April 13 and 14, Canine Disaster Search Teams traveled from all over the country to take their FEMA Certification Evaluation in Seattle, WA. Veteran SDF-trained Search Teams Cynthia Sato & Roxy (California Task Force 1), Mark Schroeder …
On Tuesday, April 2, urban search and rescue task forces from Fairfax, VA and Los Angeles, CA kicked off a joint four-day field training exercise across Los Angeles and Ventura Counties. This training focused on deployment readiness for the teams, dubbed USA-1 and USA-2 when deployed internationally by the Office …
When a group of squatters were being evicted from rural land in Grant Pass, Oregon, an observant neighbor noticed there were many stray dogs also living on the property. Concerned for the dogs’ welfare, the neighbor contacted Canine Trainer Katrina Van Der Linden of Van Der Linden K9, hoping to …
SDF volunteer Laura Rathe found Jagger at Haven Humane Society in Redding, CA in December of 2007. He had arrived the week before as a stray and was severely malnourished. Despite his health problems, Jagger was extremely ball-driven and wanted to play. Laura evaluated Jagger for our program and immediately …
Congratulations to the Canine Disaster Search Teams who recently achieved Certification in Arizona! On March 2 and 3, Canine Disaster Search Teams traveled from all over the country to take their FEMA Certification Evaluation in Phoenix, AZ. With a full roster of testing both days, a record 14 SDF-trained Search …
Kendri was found wandering the streets in Sioux Falls, South Dakota and was luckily brought to the Sioux Falls Area Humane Society—a shelter that previously found Search Dog Decker—so shelter staff knew this energetic dog could have a heroic future when they saw Kendri. A staff member recognized her very …
The staff at the Southern Oregon Humane Society (SOHS) in Medford, OR, discovered this wonderful canine while visiting Tehama County Animal Services in Red Bluff in Northern California. Dana was bouncing a tennis ball on the ground as she walked through the kennel and noticed a Lab/Shepherd mix who was …
On February 16th, SDF opened its gates for our first-ever US&R Live Find training workshop open to all U.S. canine handlers! We welcomed handlers from task forces located in California, Florida and Nebraska for two days of disaster search exercises that challenged both handler and canine equally. In the …
In late 2008, Stella, a powerful female Black Labrador Retriever, came to Sundowners Kennels in Gilroy, CA for obedience training. Her owner, Kerry Holden, needed help learning to handle this rambunctious and rowdy girl. SDF’s Search Dogs were all trained at Sundowners and this was surely the best place to …
