Team Info
Task Force: California Task Force 5 (CA-TF5)
Agency: Orange County Fire Authority
Level: DHS/FEMA Certified
Most Recent Certification: January 2, 2020
Search Dog Info
Breed: Black Labrador
Sex: Female
Born: March 5, 2017
Rescued by: The Sioux Falls Area Humane Society
Recruited by: Kellee & Tim Matthews
Sponsors: Pat Snyder, Anonymous Donor
Kendri came to us as a stray from the Sioux Falls Area Humane Society and will now be a California girl with California Task Force 5’s Michael Patterson. Kendri spent eight months at our National Training Center, enjoying every minute of training with SDF and enjoying her prized toy after a job well done. Kendri does everything with flare and is a “wonder-dog” on a rubble pile—always ready to go, go, go! This black Labrador is fast and lets nothing get in her way when searching. SDF trainers loved her enthusiasm and drive, nicknaming her the “crazy one,” and also enjoyed her peaceful off-switch when not on the job. She has a really nice, sweet side to her—she loves a good scratch under the chin almost as much as her toy. Michael and Kendri make an excellent team, and he is super patient with her which is exactly what she needs. Michael is an Engineer with Orange County Fire Authority and is a first-time search dog handler with Kendri, having been selected to be a handler in April 2018. Michael frequently visited the National Training Center for seven months before pairing with this passionate black Lab in June 2019. The two work well together—navigating the pile and obstacles in the arena with ease! Kendri returns home with Mike, joining his wife and three children in Corona, CA. We expect Mike and Kendri to continue to flourish together as a strong search team and we look forward to their return to the National Training Center for training and workshops as they ready for FEMA Certification!