Partnered with Jim Boggeri
Marin County Fire Department
Oakland, California Task Force 4
Born November 19, 1999, Recon was originally donated to the Search Dog Foundation by Lab breeders Bethanie and Mike McGahan. Although they loved this beautiful Yellow Lab “Ice”, as he was then called, they saw that he had the energy and drive SDF looks for in a Search Dog candidate, and knew he would be happier as a working dog. Recon was evaluated and there was no doubt he had the makings of a great Search Dog.
After being accepted into the program, he spent a month in an SDF “Canine Prep Home” where his Prep Home “Mom”, Donna Stephens, prepared him for formal training at Sundowners Kennel.
For many years, Marin County Fire Captain Jim Boggeri had tried to get his Department Chief to authorize a canine team for their department, but the Chief remained unconvinced that there was truly a need—until September 11, 2001. No sooner had the dust settled over Ground Zero than Jim got the go-ahead to enter SDF’s training program.
In October of 2001 it was matchmaking time at Sundowners. Jim waited along with two other new handlers to find out which dog would become his canine partner and lifelong companion. Jim had his eyes on Recon. “As the dogs were brought out to meet us, Recon came bounding over at 60 miles per hour. I took one look and knew we were made for each other!” remembers Jim. Fortunately, SDF Lead Trainer Pluis Davern agreed.
A special dog, Recon’s name has a special story behind it. Shortly after the attacks on the World Trade Center, SDF Founder Wilma Melville received a phone call from Stephen Doyle, a firefighter and member of the FDNY hockey team. His hockey teammate and best friend, FDNY firefighter Timmy McSweeney, had died in the line of duty at the World Trade Center. To honor Timmy’s memory, Stephen asked that an SDF-trained Search Dog be named after Timmy’s FDNY ladder company, “Recon”. That’s how the Yellow Lab formerly known as “Ice” became “Recon”.
After being paired, Jim traveled to New York to meet with Stephen Doyle and Timmy’s family. “It was one of the most influential, moving moments in my life, knowing that my fate could have been the same as Tim’s. I vowed then and there to honor Timmy’s legacy through steadfast commitment to work and family.”
Recon is significant to another family, too. In April of 2005, Police Officer Steven Zourkas of the Niles Police Department near Chicago was killed in the line of duty. To honor Steven’s memory, the Niles community and the Department contributed $10,000 to a Memorial Fund. Steven’s wife, Ivy, decided that sponsoring a Search Dog would be a fitting tribute to her husband, a former Fire Department Paramedic. Ivy and her two children chose Recon: “I wanted something meaningful to carry on Steven’s legacy–he was always so committed to helping others. When I learned about the Search Dog Foundation, I instantly knew I had found it.”
During their career Jim and Recon deployed to several disasters, including Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005, the Mill Valley mudslide in 2006, and Hurricanes Gustav and Ike in 2008. On May 29, 2010, Recon officially retired from service, and enjoyed his golden years with Jim’s second SDF Search Dog Nino and the Boggeri family.
After ten vital, fulfilling years with SDF Handler and SDF Board Member Jim Boggeri, it was found that cancer had spread throughout Recon’s body, causing great distress. Recon passed away at the vet’s office on January 12, 2012, with Jim, wife Kim and son Dante by his side.