Team Info
Task Force: California Task Force 5 (CA-TF5)
Agency: Orange County Fire Authority
Level: Certified
Search Dog Info
Breed: Yellow Labrador
Sex: Male
Born: July 21, 2016
Recruited from: Golden Gate Labrador Retriever Rescue in San Francisco, CA
Recruited by: Kirsten Fulk
Sponsor: The Joel and Dena Gambord Family
Cooper is the third SDF graduate whose search dog potential was identified by the wonderful volunteers at Golden Gate Labrador Retriever Rescue (GGLRR), located in the bay area of Northern California. SDF began working with this organization back in 2014, when one of our volunteers met a Yellow Lab they had available for adoption that we named Tanner, who is now a federally certified Search Dog in Utah.
Originally named Cody, the Silicon Valley Animal Control Authority (SVACA) had seized this young Labrador due to owner neglect and abuse. SVACA had immediately called GGLRR and explained that they would be able to release him to them on July 9, 2017. Cody’s life was transformed that day when GGLRR collected him from the shelter and into the home of a local couple named Joann and Chuck Munch, who would be able to foster him.
Thanks to his foster parent’s patience and kindness, Cody learned that people are good and loving. Much to everyone’s surprise, this bouncy, energetic puppy seems to have bounced back 100 percent from his previous abuse and neglect. Now he loves his toys and loves every person he meets!
Having a relationship with us, GGLRR contacted SDF staff when they realized that Cody’s energetic character and high toy drive might make him a great candidate for our program. Canine Recruiter Kirsten Fulk made the trip to evaluate and said, “When I first turned him loose at the rubble pile, I was amazed as he ran right across all the wobbly pallets! I have high hopes for this bouncy pup!”
Kirsten drove him down to SDF’s National Training Center, where he was officially accepted into our training program and would spend the next fifteen months. The start to Cody’s training program was delayed due to concerns about his bark. The Bark Alert is crucial to how a Search Dog communicates to their human partner that they have found someone alive. For several months after his arrival, Cody’s bark did not last long and he would quickly grow hoarse. We did not know if he would be medically sound to complete the program but did everything imaginable to help him be successful. Eventually, Cody’s bark began to gain strength and he was able to commit to the search program!
SDF likes to honor each of our Search Dogs by only giving one dog a particular name, and a Golden Retriever named Cody had already valiantly served on California Task Force 8 in San Diego, CA for more than a decade before retiring. Because of this, GGLRR’s Cody was re-named Cooper, a name selected by SDF volunteers.
Cooper has blossomed during his time with SDF. Once a quite unruly youngster, Cooper has matured into a great Search Dog! SDF Canine Care Specialist Jenn Mueller says, “Cooper is a great reminder of why we do what we do. I read through his paperwork when he arrived and what he had been through was horrific. It was heartbreaking but watching him come into his own has been breathtaking. I’m getting teary eyed just talking about him right now because he absolutely has my heart. I know I’m going to bawl like a baby at graduation.”
Cooper graduated during SDF’s program on October 26, 2018, when he was paired with Firefighter Michael Bruce.