On July 30, 2013, a momentous new chapter began in SDF’s history books. Crockett, a black Lab with unusual zeal completed search dog training as the very first candidate to graduate at SDF’s new home, the National Training Center (NTC), located in Santa Paula, CA. Crockett was partnered with veteran handler, Tim Robertson, of California Task Force 7, based in Sacramento.
Crockett had originally been picked up as a stray in Virginia in the spring of 2012. The dog was then transported to the Animal Welfare Association of Voorhees, N. J. There, trainer Phil Guida noticed Crockett’s drive and focus and contacted staff at SDF. X-rays showed a serious amount of bird-shot spattered over one side of the dog’s body so we can only assume he was the victim of a cold-hearted assault. A video evaluation proved Phil’s observations of Crockett’s Search Dog potential to be correct, and together we worked to get Crockett to the West Coast to begin his new career!
Crockett was the first dog to have been fully-trained at the National Training Center by SDF’s team of trainers – Head Trainer Sonja Heritage, Lyz Gregory and then-trainer Lee Culley. In the last months of his training, they perfected Crocket’s search skills, bark alert, knowledge of hand signals, whistle signals and obedience commands. When the trainers passed the leash to Tim in July, they handed over an athlete and finely-tuned search machine who was once an abandoned dog on the side of the road. Crockett made it from rescued to rescuer!
Crockett’s graduation carried additional significance because he had been paired with a Sacramento City firefighter. Back in 1997, SDF founder Wilma Melville and trainer Pluis Davern paired their first graduate, a beautiful Golden Retriever named Ana, with Sacramento City firefighter Rick Lee. SDF came full circle and we found ourselves beginning a new era with the very same Task Force that first put SDF on the road to success. Rick told us at the time, “Realizing that Crockett and Tim are following in the footsteps of Ana and me actually gives me goose bumps! Tim is a good man. Tim is willing to move forward with a new dog and from the sound of it Crockett is potentially one of the best. I’m very proud for both Sacramento City Fire and for Tim to be following in our footsteps.”
Once at home in Sacramento, Tim reported to our training staff that Crockett was wonderful to work with and an excellent partner. At the station, Crockett made his rounds, checking in with each firefighter on duty and trying to get a smile. Tim said, “Crockett is a people pleaser; he just wants to make sure that everyone is happy. He’s a big lovey guy but he works hard and makes all the hard work that goes in to being a handler worth it. I can’t even really find the words to express how awesome (a partner) he is. I am honored to carry on the legacy of the original SDF handlers from Sacramento and know that Crockett will make them proud.”
On October 19, 2014, Tim and Crockett achieved Certification from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). With this, the team was eligible to deploy as members of California Task Force 7, based in Sacramento.
Unfortunately, before they could deploy to a disaster, Crockett was diagnosed with a condition that affected his eyesight. For his own safety, we were forced to medically retire Crockett on April 19, 2016. He became a pet in Tim’s home and, even though he eventually lost his sight altogether, Crockett enjoyed romping around in the back yard with Tim’s goats and other farm animals.
Crockett had a big heart and a lot of talent, and was a very special dog to many of us. Crockett peacefully crossed the Rainbow Bridge on March 22, 2020, just shy of his eleventh birthday. He will be remembered always at SDF’s Canine Memorial Wall at our National Training Center.