In June of 2014, Tim Matthews of the South Dakota Canine Center was in Iowa visiting the Sioux City Animal Adoption and Rescue Center, where he had previously adopted Search Dog Ripley the year before. In one of the kennels he found Sammi, a one-year old Black Lab who had been picked up as a stray by the shelter’s Animal Control Officer.
Tim ran Sammi through a series of evaluations and adopted her after seeing the characteristics that would make her a good Search Dog – high drive, laser focus on the toy and a love for the hunt! Once back in South Dakota, Tim’s wife, Kellee, reported to SDF, “She is beautiful inside and out…all drive but sweet and engaged with whoever is with her. We didn’t find a challenge Sammi didn’t rise above and enjoy immensely. She will thrive as a Search Dog and make it look easy!”
Upon traveling to California to begin formal training, Sammi thrived! SDF trainer Emily Fisk reported shortly after her arrival, “She is VERY intense…She LOVES this game.”
Sammi was renamed “Vita” in honor of SDF volunteer Vita Franco, who had dedicated a tremendous amount of time helping the staff at SDF, including providing canine transportation and using her computer skills to assist in material preparation for incoming handlers. Search Dog candidate Vita graduated in September 2015 and was partnered with handler Garreth Miller of California Task Force 3 (CA-TF3). The team Certified in April 2016 with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
In September 2017, Vita and Garreth were one of sixteen SDF-trained teams to deploy for the devastating Category 5 Hurricane Irma. Hurricane Irma caused widespread damage and devastation to the state of Florida and was deemed one of the costliest and strongest hurricanes recorded to hit the Atlantic Basin.
One year later, on September 8th, 2018, Garreth and Vita were deployed to Hawaii ahead of Hurricane Olivia to be ready for action should they be needed. Luckily for people there, Olivia ended up passing the islands by much more easily than originally anticipated. They incurred very minimal damage and there were no citizens unaccounted for that required search teams.
The following March, the team traveled to Phoenix, AZ, where Vita displayed her skills and they attained FEMA Re-Certification. All U.S. teams must undergo a Certification Evaluation every three years in order to maintain active deployment status and be eligible to go out the door with their task force in times of need.
The next call came for Garreth and Vita on September 3, 2019, as Hurricane Dorian made its way across the Atlantic Ocean, heading towards the southeastern U.S. 12 SDF-trained teams from multiple agencies responded to assist in the search for missing citizens in North Carolina and Florida.
When she began to slow down and she was ready to enjoy some well-earned leisure time, Vita retired on July 31, 2021. She remained a pet in the Miller home and enjoyed more lounging and play time with Garreth’s children. Garreth was paired with a second search dog named Reva and we liked to think of Vita as a great role model and mentor to her new sister.
Vita peacefully crossed the Rainbow Bridge on November 27, 2023, at the age of 10. She was a sweet soul and will be greatly missed. Vita’s life and service will be honored at SDF’s Canine Memorial Wall in Santa Paula, CA.