On July 18, 2026, the Search Dog Foundation officially passed the leashes of eight incredible search dog graduates to their new handlers. Friends, family, and SDF staff gathered to celebrate these teams and the hard work and dedication that got them to this moment and the beginning of their careers together in service to the nation.
Thanks to your support, we are proud to introduce you to the newest search teams to join our roster:
- Lee Culley & Leon (Utah Task Force 1)
- Rebekah Drews & Bo (Los Angeles County Fire, California Task Force 2)
- Jarod Freeman & Uly (Oklahoma City Fire, Oklahoma Task Force 1)
- Andrea Geddes & Checkers (Los Angeles County Fire, California Task Force 2)
- Calvin Giddings & Bolt (Utah Task Force 1)
- Clint Schepe & Draco (Chula Vista Fire, California Task Force 8)
- Corey Teng & Ziggy (San Diego Fire Rescue, California Task Force 8)
- Joe Zakar & Dingo (San Diego Fire Rescue, California Task Force 8)
Now, they join the ranks of two- and four-legged heroes across the country who stand ready to search for those lost in the aftermath of a disaster. Over the coming year, each handler and search dog will work together every day—honing their skills, growing their incredible bond, and preparing for official certification to become deployable with their fire departments and task forces.
We are so proud of these teams and can’t wait to see all they will accomplish together!
Thank you to the following folks for helping us form these pairings:
- Tri-City Animal Shelter for sending us Leon
- Jill Bee and Loren Glasser, Carol Marengo, and Farmers Insurance for sponsoring Leon
- Taney County Animal Control for sending us Bo
- Walt and Faith Kalback, Paul W. Kurzeka, M. Lawrence Lallande and Nicole Lallande for sponsoring Bo
- MK9 Solutions for sending us Uly
- Berrien County Animal Services for sending us Checkers
- The Joel and Dena Gambord Family for sponsoring Checkers
- The Joel and Dena Gambord Family for sponsoring Bolt
- Vernon and Patricia Ralph, and The Sandra Trinka Revocable Trust represented by Theresa McConville for sponsoring Draco
- Humane Rescue Alliance for sending us Ziggy
- Lenny & Squiggy for sponsoring Ziggy
- City of Stockton Animal Services Center for sending us Dingo
- Julie Croker, The DeMartini Family, and Melody Euchman for sponsoring Dingo