Bailey was discovered at Sioux City Animal Adoption & Rescue Center in Sioux City, Iowa, by Tim and Kellee Matthews of the South Dakota Canine Center. The Matthews’ had a long working history with the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation (SDF), and spent much time on the road scouring Midwest shelters for potential canine candidates. In fact, Bailey is the third successful candidate from the Sioux City Animal Adoption & Rescue Center since 2013!
Bailey had been picked up by Animal Control in Iowa and impounded as a stray. From the looks of her she had recently had a litter of puppies. Despite this, Bailey was the picture of fitness and full of drive!
Kellee told us that Bailey went through the evaluations process extremely well, “Everything we look for in Search & Rescue candidates, she had with some to spare! Sweet girl, all business and ready to work ALL the time!! We were excited for SDF to meet Bailey and are sure she will move through training very quickly – she wants to get to work!!”
Bailey arrived in California to begin training in April of 2015. Bailey gave every part of her training program her full attention and is an absolute natural when it comes to search work. Trainer Emily Fisk reported early on: “Bailey is a beast! She is working the barrel field and she searches SO quickly! She is desperate to find the victim and get the toy. She has great drive and doesn’t let anything get in her way. She is definitely ready to move to the rubble!” Watching her work during her time training at the NTC, it is quite clear that this is what Bailey was born to do.
Bailey graduated in January 2016 and is partnered with Robert Goertzen, a Los Angeles firefighter with California Task Force 1. Together trained in preparation for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Certification, which allows them to deploy to disasters nationwide as necessary. The team achieved FEMA Certification in Castaic, CA on September 17, 2016.
The team’s first deployment was Hurricane Dorian in September 2009. Robert and Bailey had been practicing for this type of disaster scenario since certification and were ready to put their skills to use on the East Coast. The team spent nearly a week there until all citizens were accounted for and first responders were sent home.
Bailey re-certified in February 2020, but before she could go out the door on another mission, she developed a case of laryngeal paralysis. It started as a mild case and she was retired from the task force on December 8, 2023. Bailey continues to live in the Goertzen home as a beloved family pet. Robert says she still displays the desire to work, but they keep her well-rested and are trying to get her to slow down as she makes this transition.
Thank you for your service, Bailey, and enjoy retirement!