Category: News
The Fall 2023 Bark Alert is Unleashed!
Catch up on highlights and happenings from the Search Dog Foundation over the past few months, including search dog Scotty’s journey from Lab on the lam to disaster search dog grad, and Zena, a former stray dog now training to find people lost in the wilderness. We also recap …
Two SDF-trained Teams Search After Building Explosion in Tijuana
On October 20, 2023, SDF-trained search teams Luis Garcia & Montecito and Fidel Gomez & Gemma responded to a building explosion in the Cumbres neighborhood of Tijuana, Mexico. The damage was significant and two people were believed to be inside when the explosion occurred. We’re thankful that Luis & …
Congratulations to the three newest teams to join the SDF roster!
We were thrilled to welcome friends, family, supporters, and staff to our campus earlier this month to help us celebrate the latest additions to our search team roster. Three California first responders were welcomed to the SDF roster with their new canine partners as America’s newest search teams, officially …
SDF-trained Team Respond to Building Explosion in Central California
On August 23, 2023, SDF-trained search team Eric Gray & Dee (Santa Barbara County Fire) responded to a building explosion in the Hancock Village condominium complex in Santa Maria, CA. The powerful blast completely destroyed one residence and critically injured the person inside, who remains hospitalized. Three other people …
Canine teams deploy to Southeastern United States ahead of Hurricane Idalia
On August 28, 2023, two SDF-trained canine disaster search teams, Kristi Bartlett & Ivan from Virginia Task Force 1 (VA-TF1) and Chris Cook & Ridge from Virginia Task Force 2 (VA-TF2) deployed to the northern Florida area along with their teammates ahead of Hurricane Idalia. Having rapidly strengthened from …
Winnie (2010 – 2023)
In June of 2013, an Australian Shepherd mix named Molly was discovered at Herding Rescue Dogs of Wyoming (HeRD of WY) by long-time SDF friends Kellee and Tim Matthews. The Matthews’ family own and operate the South Dakota Canine Center in Sturgis and frequently visit neighboring states in search of …
Two SDF-trained Teams Join Search for Missing Hikers in the Catskills
On August 18, 2023, SDF-trained canine search teams Brian Girard & Keila and Brook Rowley & Echo (New York Task Force 2) responded to a report of two hikers lost in the Catskill Mountains. The two missing men, ages 18 and 20, were part of a group of 16 …
Maxim (2009 – 2023)
In February 2011, Maxim was discovered by SDF volunteer Laura Rathe at the Humane Society of Del Norte in Crescent City, CA. Laura and her husband Wayne travel for SDF a couple of times a year to shelters along the Northern California coast and were lucky to come across Maxim …
SDF-trained canine teams join disaster response in wake of Maui wildfires
On August 13, 2023, two SDF-trained human remains detection (HRD) search teams, Nick Bartel & Six and Ed Ruiz & Harper from California Task Force 2 (CA-TF2) traveled to Maui along with their teammates, Celine Serrano & Prentiss to assist in the aftermath of wildfires that devastated the region …