Team Info
Task Force: Nebraska Task Force 1 (NE-TF1)
Agency: Lincoln Fire-Rescue
Level: In training to certify
Search Dog Info
Breed: Labrador Retriever
Sex: Male
Born: February 26, 2019
Recruited from:Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA
Sponsor: Kathleen and Stephen Davis
Nate was found living with a homeless person and, for unknown reasons, was confiscated and taken to the Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA in San Mateo, CA. Due to a pending court hearing involving his previous owner, shelter staff was not allowed to interact much with Nate. However, they noticed his high energy and excitement during their limited interaction. As soon as they were allowed to play with him, shelter staff immediately observed Nate’s high toy drive and affinity for the Jolly Ball! The Director of Behavior at the humane society reached out to SDF Canine Training Manager, Mandy Tisdale, who used to work with their staff on canine training, to let her know that Nate may be a search dog candidate. They were right – Nate passed the evaluation and was soon on his way to our campus to start search dog training.
At our National Training Center, Nate’s funny antics made trainers laugh. Before searching, Nate gets excited like all our dogs, but instead of vocalizing his excitement by barking, Nate launches into an ear-splitting yowl!
Nate distinguished himself in other ways too. He is stunning to look at with amber-colored eyes, a sleek black coat, and rippling muscles. With his muscle definition, Nate looks like a bodybuilder, and his strength backs it up. He is a star in our fitness program and set a record for the longest plank at twenty-two minutes!
This sweet boy has brains as well as brawn and has stood out as a star student. Happiest when he’s learning, his search skills quickly gained momentum, culminating in a powerful, confident bark alert. Nate learned to apply his nimbleness to search work too. He loves agility and masterfully climbs up and down a six-foot ladder with ease!
Nate selected his human partner, Carey Jenkins of Lincoln-Fire Rescue, Task Force 1, while working with him during SDF’s Handler Training Course. Carey started his career as a high voltage electrician working in copper mines in the southwest and then moved to Oregon, where he started a construction company and volunteered as a firefighter. When the housing market crashed in 2007, Carey began contracting for the military and did five tours in Iraq and Afghanistan in varying capacities, from HAZMAT to paramedic for the Department of State. Whenever he was stateside, he’d volunteer full-time at the fire department and continue his education. He applied and tested for Lincoln Fire & Rescue and has been with the department since 2015.
In 2016, Carey met one of the canine search teams in his department, Damon Wirth & George, and became enthralled with the idea of becoming a handler himself. At that time, he needed to focus on making it through the paramedic precepting and probation process before embarking on any new skills, so it would be a few years before the timing was right and the position of Canine Search Specialist opened on his task force.
When Carey first met Nate, he had no idea they would eventually be matched. Carey says, “Nate was the first dog I worked with at SDF on day one. I couldn’t get him to drop his toy, and he seemed more interested in running away from me. My first impression was, ‘Well, he doesn’t like me. Hopefully, I’ll have better luck with the next one.’”
By the time the training was over and they were playing in the agility yard, Carey couldn’t get Nate to leave his side. That’s when he hoped they’d be partners.
Nate and Carey were officially paired on July 2, 2022, and Nate went home with Carey to Nebraska. We are so happy these two hit it off and can’t wait to share their accomplishments!