Search Teams

Our Search Teams

California Regional Task Force 7 (CA-RTF7) Ventura County

California Task Force 1 (CA-TF1) Los Angeles City

California Task Force 2 (CA-TF2) Los Angeles County

California Task Force 3 (CA-TF3) Bay Area

California Task Force 4 (CA-TF4) Oakland

California Task Force 5 (CA-TF5) Orange County

California Task Force 7 (CA-TF7) Sacramento

California Task Force 8 (CA-TF8) San Diego

Nebraska Task Force 1 (NE-TF1)

New York Task Force 2 (NY-TF2)

Oklahoma Task Force 1 (OK-TF1)

Tijuana Task Force 1 (TIJ-TF1)

Utah Task Force 1 (UT-TF1)

Virginia Task Force 2 (VA-TF2)

Nico & Mark Stevenson

Nico & Mark Stevenson

 

Team Info

 

Task Force: California Task Force 1
Agency: Los Angeles Fire Department
Level: In training to certify

 

 

Search Dog Info

 

Breed: Labrador Retriever
Sex: Male
Born: March 30, 2019
Recruited from Hearing Dog Program
Recruited by Trevor Lawrence
Sponsors: Lazin Animal Foundation

 

 

Nico’s journey to becoming a working dog was anything but traditional, but his story is a testament to the Search Dog Foundation’s commitment to listening to what every dog is telling us. Originally placed for adoption by a family who recognized his non-stop energy and obsession with fetch, Nico was recruited and brought to our National Training Center. 

 

After several months of training, Nico signaled that he wasn’t quite ready for the demands of the disaster search program. He transitioned into our Lifetime Care (LTC) program and spent a few years in a family home. However, when he eventually returned to SDF to find a better lifestyle fit, our staff noticed a profound shift: Nico’s toy drive had become unwavering, and his confidence had soared. It was clear that Nico wasn’t just a high-energy pet—he was a dog who was born to work. We decided to pivot his training toward Human Remains Detection (HRD), and Nico has thrived in this new vocation ever since. 

 

While Nico was discovering his true calling, Mark Stevenson was following a lifelong passion for service. Growing up with a deep desire to help people, Mark found his place as a first responder and eventually joined the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Malibu Search and Rescue team. It was there, working alongside canine handlers on missing person cases, that Mark saw the tireless dedication of these dogs and knew he was “all-in” on the K9 journey. 

 

After working with his SDF-trained live-find partner, Ruger, for several years, Mark felt the call to expand his skills into the HRD discipline. Having worked with SDF before, he knew it was the only place he wanted to find his next partner. 

 

The connection between Mark and Nico was instantaneous. Mark, who admits a fondness for “big, pushy, loud labs,” describes Nico as a “tank” who checked every single box the moment they met. “The first day I met him, I was hooked,” Mark recalls. 

 

Mark and Nico were officially paired on April 18, 2026, and Mark is looking forward to their career together. “I’m glad I can give [Nico] a fulfilling life because he was born to work, and he is going to bring closure to so many people.”