In May of 2009, a new SDF volunteer named Bill Murphy came across a listing for a five-month-old Lab mix at the Yolo County Animal Shelter. The description of the pup was appealing, and Bill felt this boy was worth a look. He immediately forwarded the information to the SDF Canine Manager, and SDF sent a request to our Northern California evaluators. Within a short time, Jane Crue, one of SDF’s exceptional evaluators, responded to the request.
Once Jane confirmed that the dog, named Tucker, was a prime candidate, he was transported to Ojai. Tucker was a toy nut. The young pup’s body had not yet caught up to his rapidly growing legs, and it was hilarious to watch him try to coordinate his front end and back end to get where he wanted to be. But he was determined. Regardless of his awkwardness, Tucker managed to navigate any terrain to retrieve a toy.
Tucker stayed in Ojai for a little more than a month while he worked on his drive and stamina. During this short stay, SDF had its annual Search Team Recognition event where SDF gets the opportunity to show supporters the organization’s work and achievements for the past year. Tucker attended the event and became one of the stars of the demonstration.
With SDF’s Lead Trainer Pluis Davern at the microphone, SDF Trainers Kate Davern and Sharon Hanzelka evaluated Tucker in front of hundreds of people. This demonstration showed the audience how SDF selects canines for the program. Using a makeshift rubble pile that had been created for the event, Pluis, Kate and Sharon proceeded to evaluate Tucker, who showed everyone why he had been chosen to be a Search Dog. Pluis tossed a toy into the rubble where Tucker could not see it; champing at the bit, Tucker was released and began his search for the toy. Climbing on unstable wooden pallets and unfamiliar surfaces, Tucker worked his way through the pile, and within moments successfully located and retrieved the toy. The crowd cheered and applauded his performance as he triumphantly appeared with the toy in his mouth. A quick game of tug, and you could see the joy on Tucker’s face. He had made it. He was now officially a canine candidate for SDF.
Upon completion of formal training with Pluis, Kate and Sharon in January of 2010, Tucker was partnered with Handler Keri Grant, a Firefighter/Paramedic with the McKinney Fire Department. Tucker made himself right at home in Texas with Keri, her husband Stuart, her infant son Sammy, and their Weimaraners Duke and Missy Anne. Tucker and Keri have overcome challenges and shared many adventures, all the while training with Texas Task Force 2 and the other Dallas Handlers. Tucker and Keri continued to sharpen their skills, and the pair passed their State Urban Search and Rescue (SUSAR) Type II Certification test in Tulsa, OK in December of 2010. Six months later the team achieved their advanced SUSAR Type I Certification, making them ready for any regional disasterwhere lives can be saved.
The team’s first opportunity came when a fertilizer plant caused a deadly explosion in the small town of West, TX on April 17, 2013. Keri received a call at approximately 11pm that night and immediately joined teammates Mike Hargrove and Search Dog Hayden and the rest of Texas Task Force 2 in their Search and Rescue efforts. Throughout the night, Keri and Tucker combed through dozens of homes in the hopes of finding survivors.
“This was our very first deployment. Tucker searched 50 homes in a very sort amount of time while Hayden searched the first floor of an entire apartment complex. Neither dog wanted to stop searching, not even to stop to drink. Tucker and Hayden did not give up nor did they sustain a single injury, not even a scrape. Mike and I felt incredibly useful – these dogs are amazing little searching machines!”
By the next morning, no survivors had been located, which meant that the teams could finally rest and the next stage of the disaster recovery efforts could begin.
Nearly one month later, on May 15th, the team responded with Texas Task Force 2 to a tornado ravaged neighborhood in Granbury, TX, alongside teammates Laurel Pitman & Search Dog Sonic. The task force searched over 130 homes throughout the early morning hours, making sure no one was left behind in the wreckage.
In a cell phone call from the scene in Granbury, Keri shared, “There is total and complete devastation all around us. Just the slabs of foundation are left – nothing else. Mobile homes are stacked on top of each other all over the place. Having lived in Texas all my life, I’ve seen plenty of storms, but until you’re on the ground searching home to home like this, you don’t realize the absolute destruction left behind.
“Tucker was the real deal. As soon as I opened that kennel door he was ready to go and hasn’t wanted to stop once. It has been very gratifying to work with some of the same first responders as we did in West, TX last month – they know Tucker now and are able to ask us to search certain areas they know the dog can cover quickly and efficiently, better than humans. I couldn’t be prouder of him.”
In order to maintain deployment-ready status, Keri and Tucker achieved SUSAR Re-Certification on June 7, 2014 in Salina, KS. All active teams must Re-Certify every three years in order to maintain their ability to deploy with their task force.
The next call came on October 23, 2015, when a seven story parking structure collapsed under the weight of a deck pool. The pool fell through every story, landing at the bottom of the structure, and there was no way of knowing if anyone was in their vehicles at the time. Three SDF teams went to work, including Keri and Tucker. Handlers reported back that the dogs did a terrific job of navigating some very difficult and strenuous terrain, and they were able to notify structural engineers that no one was trapped alive in the wreckage, so that cleanup could begin.
Then on December 26, 2015, calamity struck Garland, TX when a series of tornadoes touched down and caused widespread damage to the area. Keri and Tucker deployed with Texas Task Force 2 as a regional resource and then stayed on for a second day as a State resource to continue to search for citizens that may be trapped alive in debris. Keri shared with us, “A Task Force leader said: ‘had we not had those dogs to clear some of the structures, it would have been impossible.’ These were 2 story houses and apartment buildings that we (first responders) couldn’t access (but the dogs could). Having the dogs was an absolute necessity and blessing. Being able to trust that when a dog came back having given no indication is was right. To me, that’s what was mind boggling. With today’s technology it amazes me that in everything we searched, all the ground we covered, we didn’t find one person deceased or trapped and needing help. Everyone we found had been in their bathtub covered by mattresses because they had gotten an alert. Most of the deceased were driving on the roads and got no warning. People did what they were told to do and it saved their lives. That’s what’s so wonderful about technology. It really does save lives.
“We had to cease search efforts twice because of the wind and rain. Regardless of being wet and cold and running into people’s pets loose on the streets, the dogs knew this is their job and the real deal. We had to force them to take a breaks and rest, be dried off, have a drink of water, and push the reset button. Not having any finds, we asked other firefighters to do a quick hide to get the dogs pumped up; it does wonders for their spirit and ability to keep going.
“The community was bringing clothes, food, and water. Restaurants were donating food for first responders. We didn’t want for anything. At the high school where we were set up, there was more food provided that we could ever eat. It was people’s way of helping in the only way they could.”
Words cannot express our overwhelming gratitude for Keri and Tucker’s tireless dedication to the Canine Disaster Search and Rescue program over the years. The world is a better place because of their work and Tucker’s retirement from Texas Task Force 2 on January 31, 2018 left big paws to fill.
Tucker enjoyed retirement for two years, until he crossed the Rainbow Bridge on March 16, 2020, due to medical complications at the age of 12. Tucker touched a lot of people’s lives and was loved by so many of us. He will be honored at SDF’s Canine Memorial Wall so that his service will never be forgotten.