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 when her family could no longer care for her. She was recruited for SDF’s training program by Kellee Matthews of the South Dakota Canine Center, who saw in Taylor all the characteristics that make a canine hero.
Taylor was flown to SDF’s training center in Santa Paula, California, in November 2012 and impressed trainers daily with her relentless desire to work and play. Lead trainer Sonja Heritage reported that Taylor was a rock star! She learned quickly, was always bursting with energy, and you could truly see her love for the search game when you watched her on the rubble.
Taylor was given her name by Mike Diani of Diani Building Corp., the General Contractor for SDFs new National Training Center (NTC), in honor of Mike’s 17-year-old niece, the youngest ever victim of ovarian cancer, who lost her battle with the disease in August 2011. Mike says she was always full of vigor and energy and the epitome of strength and grace while fighting for her life. We could not think of a better way to honor the memory of such an exceptional young woman than to bestow her name on a canine hero that would one day save lives.
Taylor was partnered with Paramedic/Logistics Specialist Trevor Lawrence of Utah Task Force 1 on December 11, 2013. It was easy to see their connection during Trevor’s two weeks of training, for as they practiced heeling, Taylor would prance alongside Trevor, trotting with glee and awaiting his next command.
The new team returned to Utah and began to train daily for their FEMA Certification Evaluation, which would allow them to deploy to disaster areas across the nation. Then, on May 17, 2014, only five months after being paired, Trevor and Taylor achieved FEMA certification. Most teams aim to earn certification within one year, but for new handlers to do so in such a short timeframe was a true testament to the foundational training received at SDF.
On November 21, 2014, Trevor and Taylor were able to put their skills to work for Salt Lake City when an older woman was reported missing. Trevor and Taylor searched two miles of a frozen canal until the water got deep and the ice thin, when Trevor fell back and Taylor carried on, also searching barns and other structures along the route. After the police did a reverse 911 call and asked citizens to check their property, the woman was found at a home two blocks from where Trevor and Taylor were searching.
Trevor was pleased with Taylor’s performance, and the team put her skills to work again in September 2015 and June 2016 during other missing person searches. On January 20, 2018, Trevor and Taylor achieved FEMA re-certification at the Del Valle Training Center in Castaic.
Taylor retired on March 17, 2019, and continued to live and spend all her time at Trevor’s side until she was diagnosed with an untreatable cancer mass on her throat. Trevor spent the last two weeks of Taylor’s life treating her like a queen and making her as comfortable as possible before she crossed the Rainbow Bridge on August 26, 2022.
Thank you, Trevor and Taylor; we are forever grateful for your service to the citizens of Utah and this nation.