Team Info
Task Force: California Task Force 5 (CA-TF5)
Agency: Orange County Fire Authority
Level: Certified
Search Dog Info
Breed: Black Labrador mix
Sex: Female
Born: December 19, 2017
Donated by a private donor in Kaysville, Utah
Recruited by Trevor Lawrence
Sponsor: The Joel and Dena Gambord Family
SDF was fortunate to meet Mila at the beginning of 2019 when her owner donated her to our organization rather than take her to a shelter. At the time, Mila was still young, at about one year of age, and the family had listed her in a local ad in Utah in hopes of finding her a new family. After running the ad with no interest for several weeks, they decided to drop her off at the shelter. Coincidentally, SDF recruiter Trevor Lawrence saw the ad the same day and gave them a call! Luckily, Mila demonstrated the toy drive needed for SDF’s program, and her owners were excited about the opportunity for Mila to save lives.
Mila was a rock star in training from the very beginning! She arrived at our National Training Center (NTC), tail wagging and ready to play! This young black Labrador mix was able to focus her youthful enthusiasm into drive and was always excited to work with the trainers. Mila has a beautiful, even-keeled temperament but with intensity to search, which made her a delight in training.
In just six months, she went from wild pup to search and rescue canine, partnered with Firefighter/Paramedic Tyler Green of the Orange County Fire Authority and California Task Force 5 (CA-TF5). Mila is Tyler’s first search dog after being selected by SDF and his task force to become a handler candidate in April 2018. Tyler traveled to the NTC to work with our staff and canines regularly and was officially paired with Mila on June 28, 2019.
Mila returned home with Tyler and became a part of his home and life just a few hours south of our campus. The new team trained regularly with their task force teammates and achieved FEMA certification in February 2020 and again in May 2023 to remain deployable with CA-TF5 when disasters strike.
Mila and Tyler have deployed on the following missions to date:
- December 30, 2022 – Missing Person Search – Brea, CA
- February 21, 2023 – Missing Person Search – Brea, CA
- October 8, 2024 – Hurricane Milton – Florida
We look forward to continuing to watch their careers blossom!