http://www.SearchDogFoundation.org/

National Disaster Search Dog Foundation, 6800 Wheeler Canyon Road, Santa Paula, CA (2025)

09/02/2025

🌈💔 With heavy hearts, we share that Search Dog Geno has crossed the Rainbow Bridge.

Geno was originally on track to compete in the world of field trial competition, but his loud, boisterous personality proved to be a bit too much for that particular career track. Luckily, a big, excited bark is a huge advantage in the world of search and rescue, and after passing his initial evaluation with flying colors, Geno was accepted into SDF's training program right away.

Here, it became clear that Geno had found his true calling, and he truly began to thrive. In September 2019, after ten years as a first responder, Los Angeles County Fire Department firefighter Sean Quigley's dream of becoming a canine handler became a reality when he and Geno were officially partnered. Sean and Geno dedicated themselves to their training, and together, the team achieved certification as members of La County Fire Search Dogs, INC. (CA-TF2), making them eligible to deploy anywhere in the world when disaster strikes.

The team put their training to the test in February 2023, when they were called to assist rescue efforts following the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck Türkiye and the surrounding region. They worked tirelessly alongside fellow USA-2 and USA-1 teammates, as well as teams from all around the world, to search for live victims in the aftermath of this tragic event. Geno and Sean deployed once again in October 2024, when Hurricane Milton made its destructive path through Florida, prompting widespread rescue and recovery efforts.

On June 16, 2025, Geno crossed the Rainbow Bridge and while he will be deeply missed, we know Geno's memory will live on in all who were fortunate enough to know and love him. We are forever grateful to Geno for his years of dedicated service, and we will honor his life and work at our Canine Memorial Wall. ❤️

🕊️ You can read more about Geno here: https://www.searchdogfoundation.org/in-loving-memory-geno/

09/01/2025

📣 Calling all SDF adoption heroes—your adoption story can help SDF earn $100,000!

🐾 The Petco Love Stories campaign celebrates the unbreakable bond between pet parents and their adopted pets while raising awareness about the importance of pet adoption—something we're passionate about, because here at SDF, we believe every dog deserves to find their place in life! Whether on the rubble pile, in the fire station with a dedicated handler, or in a loving home with their family, we want to help them find their perfect place in the world. 💕

💬 Our friends at Petco Love are asking adopters to share their stories about how their adopted pet changed their lives, so now, we're calling on our amazing community and asking you to share your SDF adoption story! If your story wins, the Search Dog Foundation will receive a generous grant from Petco Love!

💜 Now through September 29, submit your love story along with photos of you and your adopted pup to PetcoLove.org/adopt/love-stories/ for our chance to receive this grant. Thank you for sharing your story, and for giving rescued dogs the happy, love-filled lives they so deserve! 🫶

08/31/2025

Best birthday wishes to Search Dog REBEL! 🐶🎂 Rebel was raised by veteran SDF handler Julie Padelford, who raised him alongside her other search dogs, Ricochet and Rampage. When Rebel was old enough, Julie approached SDF in the hopes of landing him a spot in our program. After an evaluation, it was clear he had search dog potential, and soon he was on his way to the NTC to begin his formal training! 🎉

Once here, SDF trainers fell in love with this happy-go-lucky Lab, and he fell head-over-heels in love with the search game. 😍 Rebel made quick progress in his training, and before long, he was completing complex searches with ease!

In March 2022, Rebel graduated and was officially paired with Julie as a search team. 💕 Together, they trained and achieved certification with Oakland US&R California Task Force 4, enabling them to deploy with their task force teammates when disaster strikes. Way to go, Rebel! We hope you're having the best birthday a pup could ask for! 🥳❤️

08/30/2025

When Henny arrived at Placer SPCA, she’d already been through a lot. Transferred from another shelter, adopted, then returned for being “too much to handle,” she needed someone who understood that her high energy wasn’t a flaw—it was potential waiting to be unlocked.

That’s where the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation comes in! Recognizing Henny’s working dog potential, she was flown by our transportation partners at Angel Flight West to SDF's campus, where she would work with our trainers to focus that energy into disaster search training.

Over time, Henny blossomed, tackling rubble searches, agility, direction and control, and alert work with increasing focus. Still, it became clear that her skills and temperament might be a better fit for a different career path. Thanks to our partnership with Sector K9 Foundation, Henny found exactly that!

Today, K9 Henny serves as a Law Enforcement Detection Dog with the Kemp ISD Police Department in Texas. Together with her handler, she works in local schools, keeping the community safe and loving every minute of her job!

Because of your support, shelter dogs like Henny don’t just get second chances; they become the dogs they're meant to be. Make your gift to SDF and help more dogs reach their potential—𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗯𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘆𝗼𝘂! ❤️

08/29/2025

A very happy birthday to Search Dog T**A! 😍🎂 T**a was rescued when concerned citizens noticed T**a and another dog locked in a hot vehicle for what turned out to be nearly eight hours. Temperatures can quickly rise to extreme levels in cars, which is highly dangerous and can be fatal. 😔 While sadly, her companion did not make it, T**a was able to be removed from the situation and soon arrived at Western Hills Humane Society in South Dakota.

Two SDF recruiters with South Dakota Canine Center had seen a video online of this Border Collie mix playing fetch and noticed a familiar spark—that all-important toy drive—so they adopted her for further evaluation. ✨ Her recruiters marveled at her natural agility and athleticism, and soon she was on her way to the NTC to officially begin her training to become a search dog! 🎉 This driven and focused girl excelled in her training here, and was named "T**a" in honor of SDF Founder Wilma Melville's very first wilderness search dog and the beautiful T**atopa mountains in the foothills behind our campus. ⛰️💕

In September 2019, T**a graduated and was paired with Berkeley Fire Department firefighter Rudy Valencia, and together they achieved certification with Oakland US&R California Task Force 4. ⛑️ The team's first deployment came in August 2021, when they were called to the Gulf Coast to aid in the search for missing people after Hurricane Ida made landfall in Louisiana. Happy birthday T**a—we hope your day is fabulous and full of fun! 🤗🩷

08/28/2025

Today, on Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day, we're taking a moment to remember all the wonderful dogs we've said goodbye to this past year. ♥️ Each of these dogs was truly exceptional, fulfilling their potential and then some, but most importantly, they were so loved—by their handlers, families, teammates, and of course, their SDF family. While it is never easy to say goodbye, we're thankful to have had the chance to know and work with these incredible dogs, and we know that their legacies will live on with the many people whose lives they touched. 🌈💕

08/28/2025

Happy, happy birthday to Search Dog STRYKER! 🕺🪩 Stryker came to us as a career change candidate from Little Angels Service Dogs, a San Diego nonprofit that partners service dogs with persons with disabilities. Stryker’s toy drive proved too intense for Little Angels' program, so his trainer drove Stryker to SDF to be evaluated as a search dog candidate. Seeing Stryker’s energy and drive, we knew right away that he fit the bill, and he was accepted into our program! ✅

Here at SDF, trainers soon discovered that Stryker is a quick learner who is built for disaster search. 💪 This big, lovable boy is super smart and always eager to impress, and his trainers loved working with him! He flew through his obedience elements in near record time and quickly progressed through the program. 🙌

In July 2022, Stryker was partnered with Tulsa Fire Department firefighter Justin Montgomery. The two are a fantastic match, and Justin says that their strong bond strengthens their ability to work well together as a team. We couldn't agree more! 🥰 Following graduation, Stryker and Justin trained diligently and in April 2023, the pair achieved certification with Oklahoma Task Force 1 Search K9s. Their first call came in May 2024, when they assisted rescue efforts in Barnsdall, Oklahoma, after a strong tornado tore through the area. We can't wait to see all that this team can accomplish together, and we're wishing Stryker his best birthday yet! 🥳🎉

08/27/2025

📣 Calling all shelter/rescue staff and volunteers in the Ventura/LA area! Join us for a FREE in-person training event at SDF's National Training Center to learn what to look for in potential working dog candidates and how to evaluate them in an animal shelter setting!

It’s a story we hear all too often—high-energy, toy-obsessed, confident pups struggle to thrive in a normal family home due to their intense energy and drive, while those exact traits could be the key to their success in a working dog career, if only they were given the opportunity to shine in the right environment. That's why we want to help you learn how to identify potential working dogs, give you the knowledge to evaluate them, and connect you with the perfect organization for them based on their individual talents and drives!

🎟️ The event will be held on SDF's campus in Santa Paula, CA on Monday, September 22 at 8:30 a.m. PDT. To reserve your spot, head to https://www.eventbrite.com/e/evaluating-working-dogs-tickets-1557619705469?aff=oddtdtcreator

Hope to see you there! 🐾

https://www.facebook.com/events/1308273290645511/

08/27/2025

Happiest of birthdays to Search Dog JAKE! 🥳🫶 When Jake was brought to the Nebraska Humane Society (NHS) in Omaha, the shelter staff noted his energy and intense love of fetch, and felt that he might have search dog potential. So when a longtime SDF recruiter with the South Dakota Canine Center walked through the door looking for potential canine candidates, NHS staff knew just the dog for the job! 🙌

SDF trainers immediately fell for his goofy, sweet personality, and saw right away that he would do well in the program thanks to his insane toy drive. No matter the challenge, Jake would persist until he got his toy! 😄

In February 2015, Jake graduated and was paired with Sacramento Department of Airports Fire Department firefighter Eric Lieuwen, and together the team achieved certification with California US&R Task Force 7. ⛑️ Jake and Eric's first deployment as a team came in January 2018 after a deadly mudslide devastated the beachside town of Montecito, California, where the pair spent days searching through the mud and debris for missing people alongside fellow search teams and first responders. ❤️ Nice work, Jake! Wishing the best to this four-legged hero on his special day! 🎂🎉

08/26/2025

Best birthday wishes to Search Dog TOBY! 🤗🎈 Toby was initially purchased by an individual in Utah who was hoping to train her for bird hunting, as he had done with some of his other dogs. However, after the owner started his own business, he realized that he no longer had time to manage his household of dogs. Because of her energetic personality, Toby requires a lot of attention, and her owner decided that it was in both their best interests to list her for adoption. 📰 Noticing the ad in the paper, an SDF recruiter reached out to the owner to set up an evaluation, and was impressed by Toby’s friendly temperament and love for the toy. Soon after, Toby hopped on a flight to California with our friends at Angel Flight West to begin a new chapter with SDF! ✈️

Here, Toby's goofy personality, strong work ethic, and exuberance for life quickly won the hearts of her trainers. 🫶 She progressed quickly in our program thanks to her intensity and intelligence, and her natural propensity for collaboration made her a joy to work with! While this superstar search dog is intensely driven and determined while searching, she has a great "off switch" when she's off the clock, and there's nothing she loves more than a snuggle and a belly rub after a job well done. 🥰

In April of this year, Toby graduated and was partnered with Dushone Roman of Los Angeles County Fire Department. ⛑️ Soon after being paired, Dushone shared that Toby fit right in with the Roman family from the start, and in no time she had won over her new station mates as well! Toby and Dushone continue to train regularly as they work towards certification and eventual deployment with La County Fire Search Dogs, INC. (CA-TF2). We can't wait to see what the future holds for this dynamic duo, and we wish Toby the best birthday a girl could ask for! 🎂💕

08/26/2025

Today just might be our favorite holiday of the year, because today is ! 🐕🎉

We get to witness each and every day just how extraordinary dogs truly are, not only in the important work that they do but in the endless joy that they bring to our lives just by being themselves. We can't imagine life without dogs, and we know you can't either, so be sure to give the pups in your life some extra love today to show them how much you care! 💕

🐶: USAR Baja California FT-BC-3 Dirección de Bomberos Tijuana Search Dog Gemma—recruited from Save a Stray!

08/26/2025

Twenty years ago, on August 26, 2005, while the Gulf Coast reeled from the catastrophic impact of Hurricane Katrina, first responders—two- and four-legged alike—deployed to the scene en masse to aid disaster response efforts. Just one month later, Hurricane Rita made landfall on the coast, causing further destruction and leaving thousands stranded once again. A total of 27 SDF-trained search teams joined the rescue efforts in the aftermath of both storms, searching hundreds of square miles of destroyed homes and businesses to help find survivors stranded amid the massive flooding in the region. Today, we remember all those whose lives were forever changed by these devastating storms, and we thank the many first responders who answered the call when it mattered most. ❤️

National Disaster Search Dog Foundation

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