Originally named “Happy,” this canine candidate indeed makes the search game look like pure joy! The mutt was discovered at the Western Hills Humane Society in Spearfish, SD, by Kellee Matthews of the South Dakota Canine Center in Sturgis. Kellee was visiting the kennel that day because she had been alerted to another dog that might be good search dog material. She determined that the dog did not have what we are looking for when a bobbing white head at another kennel door caught her eye.
Kellee observed him for a moment and then contacted SDF to share his adoption story with us, “I took a minute to read his kennel card – POLICE IMPOUND I saw – I laughed and asked the gal what this meant, ‘what did this dog do??’ He was a stray that a local officer picked up and no owner claimed. I asked her if I could take him out in the play yard, he was still not on my radar as a potential candidate but I just wanted to get him out for a bit since he seemed so anxious to interact. I stepped into his run and picked up a couple of the toys that were on his bed, he latched on to the rope toy and I had to drag him outside with it. Light bulb!!! I ran him through a test and adopted him then and there!”
Kellee brought Happy back to her kennel and he seemed a bit awkward and inexperienced at interacting with other dogs, but it only took a short time for him to warm up and begin cheerfully playing with others.
Over the next few days Kellee discovered Happy’s hidden talent for acrobatics. He can spring straight up about 4 feet and land with paws on opposing surfaces, and now that he has arrived at SDF’s training center in Santa Paula, CA, we too have witnessed this dog’s amazing ability to bounce off walls and cling to a fence, suspended in midair and waiting for some action. SDF trainers have affectionately nicknamed him “Spidey Paws” after the popular Spiderman series.
Since arriving in Santa Paula, this dog’s enthusiasm and sweet nature have made working with him a lot of fun. He was re-named “Ollie” in honor of generous SDF supporter, Gaile Russ. We are awaiting breed test results from The Mars Corporation to let us know exactly what is in this mix, but whatever it is, it appears to be the good makings of a Search Dog!
On April 1, 2014, Ollie was paired with Firefighter Donovan George of Orange County Task Force 5. They were warmly welcomed home began training daily in preparation for their FEMA Certification, which they achieved in February 2015.