Team Info
Task Force: Oklahoma Task Force 1 (OKC)
Agency: Oklahoma City Fire
Level: SUSAR Type I Certified
Most Recent Certification: April 27, 2019
Search Dog Info
Breed: Black Lab
Sex: Female
Born: February 22, 2010
Recruited from: Humane Society of Ventura County – Ojai, CA
Named by: Linda Schottel
In September of 2011, Moxie was recruited from the Humane Society of Ventura County located in Ojai, CA. Originally named Roxy, she had spent the first 18 months of her life stationed with her owner at Camp Pendleton, but when her owner was deployed overseas, Roxy was surrendered to the Humane Society in the hopes that a suitable home would be found. Within a day, several Ojai community members had contacted SDF about a wonderful Black Lab available at the shelter and Program Supervisor, Denise Sanders, wasted no time in getting there to test the exuberant girl. Roxy passed with flying colors, but we had to wait several weeks for the shelter to make an exception to their Families Only adoption policy in order to allow SDF to introduce her to this exciting career.
A no-kill shelter, the Humane Society of Ventura County upholds strict regulations to ensure the well-being of each animal that enters and leaves their facility and typically does not allow agencies to adopt from them. Thanks to Shelter Director Jolene Hoffman, whose recommendation to their board of directors enabled SDF to adopt, Roxy was able to start her career as a Search Dog shortly thereafter. SDF promised, as we do with each dog that enters our program, to ensure Roxy’s welfare for the remainder of her life, and to keep their shelter staff updated on her progress.
Roxy was transported to Sundowners Kennels in Gilroy, CA in the fall of 2011 and was re-named Moxie in honor of SDF supporter Linda Schottel, a member of the California Federation of Women’s Clubs–Sierra Cahuenga District, and sponsor of SDF Search Team Linda Tacconelli and Joe of California Task Force 2. Linda Schottel was given the honor of naming a canine candidate for her continuous support of our teams and now we are able to see that a great Search Dog will carry out her legacy.
As she neared graduation, trainer Sharon Hanzelka said, “Moxie’s always very excited to work, has a great attitude and wants to please you. She is so bubbly, she is like a bottle of champagne – ready to blow at any time!” Moxie was paired with Brent Koeninger of Oklahoma Task Force 1 on October 23, 2012. Shortly after being paired, Brent, a Firefighter Specialist in Oklahoma City, said of his partner, “I haven’t had Moxie long, but for the time I have had her she has been a trooper. She has been going with me non-stop and has not acted the least bit concerned that she really doesn’t know where her home really is, since she’s been to my deer camp, station, home and family trip to Dallas! Moxie is a sweetheart. Like the Energizer Bunny, she keeps going and going and going. I hope I can keep up!”
In May of 2013 Brent and Moxie were deployed to the tornado torn city of Moore, OK, where a tornado a mile in width destroyed parts of the town. The team worked tirelessly in a joint search with several state task forces for several days until the Oklahoma governor declared that, thankfully, all Moore citizens were accounted for.
Upon hearing the news that Moxie was at work in Moore, Jolene Hoffman expressed the extreme pride that the staff at the Humane Society of Ventura County felt in having been a part of Moxie’s story. We continue to keep them updated whenever Moxie and Brent mark a new achievement so that they can celebrate with us.
In the June of 2013, Moxie and Brent achieved their basic SUSAR Type II Certification in order to formally be deployable in Oklahoma and the surrounding areas. Rarely does a team experience a deployment prior to certification, but the situation in Moore was so severe that, with so many human lives at stake, the Task Force decided to use every canine team available. By September of 2013, the team earned their advanced SUSAR Type I Certification, the pinnacle of career certifications.
They were able to put their training into action when a six-day tornado outbreak occurred across the Great Plains and affected multiple U.S. states in May 2015. When a mobile home park was struck in Oklahoma City on May 6th, Brent and Moxie responded immediately, searching the entire park to ensure no one was trapped in the debris.
Brent and Moxie continue to train weekly to ensure they are performing at their best the next time the call comes. We know that Brent and Moxie will achieve great things in Oklahoma!