Labs and Friends Rescue in San Diego, CA has donated several canines to SDF’s training program over the years. In June of 2010 they called SDF about Stetson—a strong, solidly built Yellow Lab who passed SDF’s evaluations with flying colors and was ready to begin training right away!
After being transported by SDF Handler Eric Darling to our preliminary training kennel at the time in Castaic, CA, Stetson moved on to formal training at Sundowners Kennels in Gilroy, CA by August. In spite of his very independent nature, he completed his training with gusto and was ready to be paired with a Handler within months.
In May 2011, four new Handlers from the Los Angeles County Fire Department arrived at Sundowners to be paired with their Search Dogs. There was an instant connection between Stetson and Captain Andrew Olvera, and with the trainer’s blessings, they became Search Team partners.
Andy told us, “My first impression was that Stetson was a ‘gentle giant’ but he is anything but gentle. He is a big, strong dog and proves so when searching – he drags me around like a 10-year-old on a skateboard. I am so excited to work with him. We have a lot to learn about one another and I need him to be as patient with me as I am with him!”
After logging hundreds of training hours the team became FEMA Certified in Miami, FL in February of 2012. By August of 2013, Stetson and Andy put their skills to use when a house collapsed in East Los Angeles and it was feared people may have been inside the building when it fell. They responded to the neighborhood with their task force teammates and were able to determine that, thankfully, no one was in the building when it went down.
Stetson deployed on the following missions with Andy throughout their career:
- August 31, 2013 – Building Collapse – Los Angeles, CA
- June 20, 2014 – Missing Person Search – Fillmore, CA
- August 4, 2014 – Mudslide – Mt. Baldy, CA
- April 26, 2015 – Earthquake – Kathmandu, Nepal
- August 9, 2015 – Vehicle Crash – Pasadena, CA
In January of 2015, the team achieved FEMA Re-Certification in Tacoma, WA, in order to maintain active deployment status. Stetson and Andy continued to train weekly at rubble piles throughout the Los Angeles area and worked on obedience training on a daily basis. They worked tirelessly for seven years to make sure they were ready for deployment locally, nationwide or around the world at a moment’s notice.
When Stetson began to move more gingerly in his advancing years, Andy decided it was time to let him retire from California Task Force 2 and enjoy himself at home as a pet with the family. Beginning January 31, 2018, Stetson spent his days relaxing in the Olvera home, rather than going to the fire station with Andy. His oldest son took responsibility for Stetson’s daily activities and playing fetch remained the happy dog’s favorite pastime.
On July 27, 2019, Stetson passed away peacefully at 11 years of age. We are grateful to Search Dog Stetson for his service to the nation and the world. He will be very missed by all those who knew him and honored at SDF’s Canine Memorial Wall at our National Training Center.
Words from Andy:
“When conducting presentations, Stetson was what I would call the SPCA poster child. The overactive, fence jumping, skittish dog who went from kill shelter to lab rescue and was unsuccessfully homed three separate times, was given a true second chance with the SDF family.
I want to thank you all for being part of the journey. On behalf of Stetson, I would like to thank you for taking an “unwanted, useless animal” and exposing his full potential as an “international hero.” Stetson truly loved his job and daily routine of training and going to the fire station.
Seeing the dog he became, one would never believe the description of him prior to SDF training. In fact, he walked proud with a showman-like prance, proud of who he was and what he represented. I felt he truly knew his importance in life.
To see Stetson at the end was very difficult at times. The canine partner, who would literally jump over a six foot wall with a simple command, began to struggle getting out of his dog house in the morning. As his last year progressed, supplements and medications were less and less effective. Stetson and I had evolved into true partnership – we would operate with unspoken words. As I knew his breathing patterns and body movements, he knew my intent and desires. Stetson would muster up the energy to get up in the morning and then stand in one position, none of the regular motivations able to move him. His fixed look into my eyes, with his hanging eyebrows and ears and rapid pant was my new regular wordless conversation. As he knew my feelings and thoughts, I too was feeling his in return.
Our hero did his job – he worked hard, he brought relief to those in need, and most importantly he fulfilled his vocation in life to help.
It is with a heavy heart that I thank you all so much for being part of the journey – letting Stetson and I be your hands and paws, touching those in need is a gift beyond what words can express…”
Stetson was given his name by longtime SDF friend and supporter Jack Teeters.