05/27/2026
Not every shelter dog is meant for the typical pet life, and sometimes, that’s exactly what makes them extraordinary. 🐾
Dunk came to us in March as a transfer from Chatham County Animal Services, and the more we worked with him, the more it became clear that he was destined for something bigger. He is incredibly smart, driven, fearless, eager to work, and absolutely obsessed with toys...all qualities that made him a perfect candidate for search and rescue work.
In April, a referral was submitted for Dunk to the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation (SDF) in California, an organization that recruits high-drive shelter dogs from across the country and trains them to become search and rescue dogs for disaster response teams.
After advancing through an extensive assessment process - including mock search scenarios, reactions to strangers and dogs, toy drive evaluations, field hunts, nerve testing, and more - Dunk officially earned his spot in the program! 👏
On Monday, he began his journey to the SDF National Training Facility, where he arrived safely and will soon begin approximately 8–10 months of search and rescue training. Once completed, he’ll be paired with a handler and work toward FEMA Urban Search & Rescue certification so he can one day deploy during times of disaster and emergency.
We could not be more proud of this incredible boy and cannot wait to follow along as he begins this next chapter. From shelter dog to future search and rescue hero...we are rooting for you, Dunk! 🐕🧡
🎥 credit: our amazing Behavior Department Manager,
