Nala & Ed Chea

Team Info

Task Force: California Task Force 1 (Los Angeles)
Agency: Los Angeles Fire
Level: Certified

Search Dog Info

Breed: Lab
Sex: Female
Born: October 6, 2020

Nala was surrendered to a shelter in Palmdale, CA, by her owners, who were relocating and indicated they were not in a position to take Nala. Luckily, Southern California Golden Retriever Rescue (SCGRR) saw Nala in the shelter and, after a short interaction, recognized her friendly demeanor and placed her with a foster family. SDF noticed SCGRR’s Facebook post about Nala’s ball obsession and quickly contacted the rescue.

Nala arrived for her screening with an SCGRR representative and her foster mom and displayed her talents to canine trainers, handlers, and staff during her performance evaluation. In training, Nala continued to impress us all, not only with her exquisite looks but with her strong desire to work. Nala is one of our most engaging dogs and loves every chance she gets to work in any capacity, whether heeling or a multiple-victim rubble search.

On June 3, 2023, Nala was partnered with Ed Chea of Los Angeles Fire Department and California Task Force 1 (CA-TF1). Together, they trained weekly with their teammates in preparation for FEMA certification, which they achieved in November 2023. Nala and Ed are now eligible to deploy when disasters strike!