Originally named Moose for his sheer size, Magnum came to SDF from the Shasta County Sheriff Animal Regulation in Redding, CA in January of 2011. He passed the initial evaluation to become a Search Dog candidate with notes in his file such as, “He realized that the toy could be hidden in the bush, so he just clobbered his way through the bushes till he found it. Not graceful, but effective.”
Magnum rapidly learned to balance his size and energy on unstable obstacles as his skills progressed and he completed training quickly. SDF trainer Kellee Matthews noted in a progress report, “I love this guy! He did great today. He has super footing – is a big dog but very light on his feet. Magnum did an intense hunt and made it look easy.” After just five months at Sundowners Kennel, Magnum was paired with firefighter Vincent Stoops of the Tulsa Fire Department.
Once returning to Tulsa, the two continued to build the bond that is so essential for a top notch team to have in order to perform at their best. Training daily one-on-one, as well as with the other members of Oklahoma Task Force 1 enabled them to grow well as partners.
As a result, Vincent and Magnum achieved their State Urban Search and Rescue Alliance (SUSAR) Type II Certification in Tulsa, OK on March 3, 2012. This initial test ensures that a handler and their canine partner are able to maneuver basic skills while out in the field and in the SUSAR system, teams can deploy to disaster zones at this level to lend a hand to those in need. Vincent and Magnum continued to work hard to earn their advanced Type I Certification on June 22, 2013.
The team was deployed together for the first time when a tornado destroyed the River Oaks Mobile Home Park in Sand Springs, OK. Deploying just after midnight on April 26, 2015, they headed out the door with teammates Jeff Leon and Justice in search of missing people. After a thorough four-hour search of the fifty home park, Jeff and Vincent were able to confidently tell other rescuers on the scene that no one was trapped inside and clean-up efforts could begin.
As is required of all canine search teams every three years, Vincent and Magnum traveled to Glenview, IL and successfully achieved SUSAR Re-Certification on April 24, 2016.
Just 2 weeks later, the team was called out to Sand Springs when a tornado ripped through the area once again. Vince and 
Magnum deployed with 3 other canine teams to sweep a mile-wide area that was most devastated in search of people who may be trapped and injured. Luckily, citizens had plenty of warning of that particular tornado, and there was no loss of life.
Magnum was retired from Tulsa Fire Department and Oklahoma Task Force 1 on New Year’s Eve 2021. He remained a pet in the Stoops home for the next several years, enjoying his favorite activity, swimming in the family pool.
At 15 years of age, Magnum peacefully crossed the Rainbow Bridge on April 15, 2024. We are grateful for Magnum’s service to his community and the nation and will remember him fondly for many years to come. Like all our four-legged heroes, Magnum will be honored at SDF’s Canine Memorial Wall in Santa Paula, CA.