In October of 2016, Blake was picked up as a stray by Jackson County Animal Care & Control Center in Phoenix, Oregon. Two weeks after his arrival, SDF Canine Recruiter Kirsten Fulk visited the shelter, seeking high energy dogs to evaluate for SDF. She did not see any on the main adoption floor, so she asked the front desk if they had any dogs in the back. They allowed Kirsten to have a look at those dogs not yet on the adoption list, and she spotted the two-year-old Chocolate Labrador paying her close attention. Kirsten said, “I showed Blake a tennis ball and he immediately jumped into the air and lunged toward the gate with excitement for the ball.” Further evaluation proved he looked like a promising candidate for SDF.
Kirsten had to wait until the time period for the owner to claim Blake had expired but once that happened, she adopted him for SDF and transported him south to our National Training Center (NTC) in Santa Paula, California.
Blake’s official evaluation at the NTC in November went very well and he was accepted into the Search and Rescue training program on the spot. He had always been a good student when it came to learning the skills required for Urban Disaster Search and Rescue, but trainers noticed a dip in his drive when he was nearing graduation. Some vet visits and several tests later, it was determined that Blake has Hypothyroidism. This common Thyroid issue was easily treated with medication and Blake bounced back in preparation for graduation.
On April 27, 2018, Blake was paired with firefighter/paramedic Michael Brice of San Diego Fire-Rescue. Blake joined Mike and his crew at the fire station and at team training as members of California Task Force 8. The twosome had a strong bond right from the start, which only grew and intensified with time.
Mike and Blake achieved certification with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in March 2019 and October 2021. Search teams must certify to deploy with their FEMA task force in the event of a national disaster and must re-certify every three years to demonstrate that their skills meet the standards for a mission.
Blake deployed on April 14, 2020, when a bluff collapsed in Torrey Pines State Park in the San Diego region. A popular spot for people to walk and jog, first responders searched the area in case anyone had been on the beach below when the cliff fell. No dogs alerted on human scent and clean-up efforts were able to commence rather quickly. Mike was very pleased with his partner’s performance, especially in that he stayed focused on the task at-hand and did not run into the ocean, a favorite pastime.
Sadly, Blake’s career was cut short in 2022 when he was diagnosed with a type of bone cancer. Veterinarians significantly lengthened Blake’s life by performing a rear leg amputation, and Blake spent his retirement years as a pet in the Brice home. Blake enjoyed vacations camping throughout the state and never lost his passion for a good chew toy.
On May 24, 2024, Mike said goodbye to his canine partner after Blake’s cancer reappeared and his quality of life was on the decline. Blake was loving and stoic until the end, and he will be missed very much by all those whose lives he touched. SDF will honor Blake’s life and service at our Canine Memorial Wall in Santa Paula, CA.