Icon was born and raised in Rochester, New York, where he started training at eight weeks of age to become a guide dog for the blind. His early training included basic obedience, socialization and exposure to situations like airline travel, getting on and off of buses, negotiating city traffic, and more. When he wasn’t training, Icon had plenty to time to just be a puppy.
Icon graduated basic obedience as a star student at only 16 weeks of age, and then moved to advanced obedience and distraction training. Everything seemed to be going well. But the further Icon progressed in his guide dog training, the more bored he seemed to be. Shannon worried that while Icon would become a wonderful guide dog, he might also become unhappy.
Suddenly, everything changed. The guide dog association that Icon was affiliated with closed its doors unexpectedly, and Icon’s fate became uncertain. Luckily, Shannon was able to purchase him from the association, which meant that she could help Icon find the right job. It was clear that Icon loved to work, and that life as a pet would not be best for him. So, she started exploring several options for him, including Search and Rescue work.
After contacting a local search and rescue group, Shannon was referred to NDSDF. She researched the group, performed toy tests with Icon, and spoke on the phone with the Canine Manager. As luck would have it, Sundowners lead trainer Pluis Davern was scheduled to be in New York for a dog show within a few weeks time, and Shannon was able to get an appointment with Pluis for Icon to be tested.
Icon went to stay at Sundowners for a few weeks, and then went to spend time with the DeMartini family, who sponsored him, in Somis, CA while he trained and waited for a spot in the kennel. The DeMartini children would hide in the family’s avocado orchard and say “help” and Icon would find them.
When Icon got to Sundowners Training Kennels in Gilroy, CA in May 2006, he began training for disaster search and rescue work. The first things that Sundowners trainer Kate Davern worked on with Icon was to get him to bark for the toy, and then Kate would play tug-of-war with him.
Through the specialized training program, the search dog candidates learn how to climb over unstable and uneven surfaces, distinguish a live “victim” scent from other scents (including all other animals), and to signal with a “bark alert” when they have found a “victim” buried in rubble. Icon did well during his training, as he had the drive, energy, and focus necessary to make it through this advanced and rigorous training course. After months of training at Sundowners Kennels, Icon was ready to be partnered with a firefighter.
Steve Swaney was the fourth handler to receive a dog from SDF in the beginning. He met Wilma in Atlanta, GA before he was a handler. Wilma and Murphy were demonstrating search dogs to rescue squads. There were 12 teams in Atlanta learning helicopter, medical, and other SAR training. Icon is Steve’s second search dog. Steve’s first canine partner, Sherman, first achieved certification in 1998. In late 2006, Sherman was ready to retire, but Steve was ready for another search dog partner. Steve and Sherman were deployed to Hurricanes Ernesto, Rita, and Katrina, the Torey Pines Bluff Collapse in San Diego, CA, and the tragedy in New York’s 9/11. Steve also organized the first IronDog competition in San Diego in 2003 – there were 10 dogs at the time. Steve also had a unique opportunity to train with Wilma in Texas with a Taiwanese Task Force that came to America for two months to learn search and rescue. They trained with Murphy and Sherman.
Icon went home with Steve in November 2006. He says, “Icon had already met Sherman before they began living together. Icon and my daughter “hit it off” immediately.
In March 2006, Steve and Icon were paired at a Graduation ceremony in Seaside, CA.
Steve worked at El Cajon Station 8 – a neighborhood fire station in El Cajon, CA. Steve and Icon have a great support system at the fire station. There is a huge interest in both of them by all his co workers. His fellow firefighters helped with training Icon – they loved to hide and help with any training done at the station, but he does most of his training before he went to work.
“I am one of only a few handlers that have taken on another dog, after my first canine partner retired.” Steve says, “I enjoy working with SDF, and working with the other handlers, and I even kind of enjoy the long drives to training sites.”
Steve and Icon passed the Foundation Skills Assessment (FSA) on September 14, 2007. The FSA is the prerequisite to taking the FEMA certification test. The test includes obedience, bark alert, agility, directionals, and rubble search, and takes many hours to complete. Steve and Icon continue to train together every day towards FEMA certification.
After certifying, Icon and Steve deployed twice to Hurricane Ike and Hurricane Gustav in 2008.
Sadly, Icon passed suddenly in 2010 in the night at his home due to heart failure from unknown tumors on his heart and lungs. He was a wonderful partner and dog, missed by all those whose lives he touched.