In February 2009, SDF trainers Sharon Hanzelka and Kate Davern had some free time while visiting Las Vegas and decided to visit local animal shelters to look for search dog candidates. At The Animal Foundation (formerly Leid Animal Shelter), one of the largest shelters in the area, they split up …
In the summer of 2008, an SDF volunteer received word from a friend about a Labrador breeder in Central California who needed to place one of her puppies. The breeder had a reputation for producing high-drive field trial and duck hunting dogs – precisely the type of dogs who might …
Taylor was born at the Sioux Falls Area Humane Society in September 2010. Her litter was fostered by caring homes and returned to the shelter at eight weeks of age for adoption. Taylor was adopted but then surrendered to the Aberdeen Area Humane Society at nearly two years of age …
In June 2011, SDF canine recruiter Heidi Miller was traveling through California, stopping at shelters to see if they had any dogs that showed promise as search and rescue candidates. At the Central California SPCA in Fresno, Heidi noticed a “quiet, depressed-looking” purebred yellow Labrador named Noah alone in his …
Sweet, lovable Lilly landed herself in shelters more times than we could count. This yellow Lab was adopted and returned numerous times until Ellen Perryess of the San Luis Obispo County Animal Shelter found Lilly’s true calling. She noticed that every time Lilly returned to the shelter, the Dog Owner …
Unlike many of our search dogs, whose high drive and intense toy focus are seen as troublesome traits, Major’s destiny was recognized from the beginning. This handsome Black Labrador was hand-picked as a puppy for just these unique qualities and donated to the Search Dog Foundation in January 2009 by …
Vader, a stocky Black Lab, was originally living at the Rescue Ranch in Yreka, CA. The staff there knew he needed a job but were not quite sure how to get him “hired.” When the Rescue Ranch called SDF, then-Canine Recruitment Manager, Darrell Wilkerson, immediately put them in touch with regional …
In early 2010, George became the second dog to join the Search Dog Foundation (SDF) ranks from Labradors and Friends Rescue in San Diego, CA. This big Black Lab with a carefree attitude, amazing agility and boundless energy just needed to find his calling in life. The traits that helped …
