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)

Checkers & Andrea Geddes

Checkers & Andrea Geddes

 

Team Info

 

Task Force: California Task Force 2 (CA-TF2)
Agency: Los Angeles County Fire Department
Level: In training to certify

 

 

Search Dog Info

 

Breed: Border Collie-Miniature American Shepherd Mix
Sex: Male
Born: May 10, 2023
Recruited from Berrien County Animal Services
Sponsor: The Joel and Dena Gambord Family

 

 

Decker’s journey to the Search Dog Foundation began in Michigan, where he was discovered wandering a neighborhood and picked up by Berrien County Animal Control in Benton Harbor. With his friendly demeanor, shelter staff fully expected his owners to step forward and claim him. When no one did, a perceptive shelter volunteer experienced with high-drive dogs spent some time with the handsome pup and immediately recognized his potential for a higher purpose. SDF stepped in to help evaluate Decker, who had an absolute blast with every test—viewing the entire process as one big, joyful game. After being officially accepted into our program, Decker caught a ride with our transport partner, Four-Legged Kids Bus, and headed west to California to begin his new life. 

 

Upon arriving at our National Training Center, Decker quickly proved he was far more than just a strikingly good-looking guy with long, flowing hair; he had the brains to match. He glided through his proficiency tests in human aggression, the emergency stop, and the long wait. From there, he threw himself into learning advanced direction, control, and agility. A natural on the rubble, trainers were thrilled to see him master his bark alert and quickly progress into complex, multiple-victim searches. We are all incredibly excited to see this talented, promising boy step into his true calling. 

 

Matching Decker’s intelligence and heart is his handler, Andrea Geddes. Growing up, Andrea knew she wanted a life dedicated to working with animals. Harboring early dreams of entering the veterinary field while simultaneously looking up to the brave men and women in the fire service, Andrea managed to capture the best of both worlds. She spent over a decade working with animals of all shapes and sizes as a veterinary technician, all while diligently pursuing her firefighting career. Eventually, her hard work paid off, and she officially transitioned into life as a firefighter. 

 

Even after achieving her dream of working in the fire service, Andrea felt a familiar calling. Becoming a canine handler offered the perfect bridge for her twin passions, giving her the extraordinary opportunity to save lives and protect the community alongside her best friend. When she reached out to her department’s task force to learn more about the canine program, she discovered SDF. Having spent years in the veterinary world seeing animals given up, mistreated, or euthanized simply because they were in the wrong environment, SDF’s mission deeply resonated with her. Knowing that these dogs are rescued from misunderstood pasts made her incredibly eager to join the legacy. 

 

When Andrea first met Decker, her initial impression was that he was a handsome, good guy who would definitely keep her on her toes. But the definitive moment of their connection came during a simple game of fetch. Decker looked right into her eyes, flashed a big smile showcasing his distinctive titanium tooth, and literally tossed the ball directly into her hands, as if to say, “Let me show you how it’s done!” In that exact moment, Andrea knew he was the one. 

 

Andrea and Decker were officially paired on July 18, 2026. As they begin their journey as a team, their short-term goals are to continue growing closer, building their trust, and passing their upcoming foundational certifications (FSA and CE). Long-term, they are dedicated to deploying together to help people in their hour of greatest need—though they also plan on learning a few cool frisbee tricks along the way! We are thrilled to welcome this dynamic pairing to our search community. We can’t wait to see what they accomplish together.