Hopper was once a family pet living as a puppy in New Mexico but, sadly, she was left in their backyard most of the time with minimal interaction and engagement from her family. When the family decided to move, they did not want to take Hopper to their new home. The family privately listed this energetic black Labrador for sale on a website, and, noticing her drive and determination, she was purchased by a dog trainer for contraband detection and transported to San Marino, CA, to begin the process.
Early on her training, it was clear that Hopper was destined for a job with much more intensity and purpose, so the trainer, who was familiar with the Search Dog Foundation’s mission and the type of dog needed for disaster search, reached out to SDF in hopes of finding Hopper the right career. Shortly after, arrangements were made to get Hopper to Santa Paula, CA, for evaluation, which she passed easily.
At our National Training Center, Hopper quickly demonstrated to trainers that she is a spunky, sassy girl who loves to work! She passed her proficiency tests with flying colors and quickly generalized her skills to different handlers. With her stellar search instinct, she became the trainer’s go-to dog to send out first if they wanted to see how the scent was moving. With all her enthusiasm for search, Hopper possessed a nice “off switch,” too, and was happy to relax when the job was done.
Hopper found her human partner in Linda D’Orsi of Chula Vista Fire, California Task Force 8 (CA-TF8), and they were officially paired on May 7, 2022. A thirty-five-year veteran first responder, Linda got her start as an EMT and then a paramedic before becoming a canine handler in 1997.
Although she’s handled several dogs in her twenty-five-year career as a Canine Search Specialist, Linda says that Hopper stands out for her confidence and problem-solving skills. If Hopper couldn’t reach her target from one angle, she would keep trying from another until she was satisfied. At home with Linda, this talent for discovering new angles unfortunately took Hopper onto the tops of dining tables and kitchen counters at first, but she steadily learned to respect boundaries.
One of the most exciting moments Linda had training with Hopper was when she finally figured out how to get Hopper to heel off-leash. Quite a feat, Linda says, since Hopper would hardly heel on-leash!
The team achieved FEMA certification in June 2022 and became eligible to deploy with CA-TF8 as needed. They routinely trained with their task force teammates, and Linda was an important part of the canine team’s leadership, sharing her knowledge and life experience with the less senior members.
On June 14, 2025, Hopper engaged in her last search with the task force before officially retiring with Linda. Hopper will remain a pet in Linda’s home, and the twosome will continue to do almost everything together. Hopper even helps Linda babysit her grandchild regularly. We wish this inseparable duo a wonderful retirement!