This huge, handsome Black Lab was rescued by Southern Oregon Humane Society’s “Saving Train” – a converted bus that travels throughout Oregon and California, picking up dogs and cats at shelters where they are destined for euthanasia and transferring them to their shelter in Medford, OR.
It was clear that Ty was a driven, toy-obsessed, powerful animal and would make a great search dog, but his ID tag said “three to five years old” – too old to begin training with the Search Dog Foundation. A shelter dog’s age can be estimated based on his teeth, and Ty’s were very worn down. But a vet examined the dog and determined that he was most likely only one or two years old. It turns out that Ty’s toy-obsession included rocks, which is why he had the teeth of an older dog!
When evaluated, Ty performed well, but was as skinny as a rail and tired easily. An examination showed that Ty had internal parasites he had picked up wandering the streets of Medford. After months of medical treatment, Ty was given the green light to begin search and rescue training. The picture of health, Ty was physically able to keep up with his insane search drive and could train hard.
“He’s scary-strong now. He drags the search ‘victim’ all over the place by pulling on the toy,” reported one of Ty’s Trainers, Sharon Hanzelka, at the time. “He’s searching great! We have a hard time even calling him back if he hasn’t found the victim!”
After many months of professional training at Sundowners Kennels, Ty was paired with Los Angeles County Fire Department Captain Dennis DiMarzio in May 2011. The two worked intensively with their California Task Force 2 teammates to achieve FEMA certification in June 2012, which enabled them to deploy internationally with their task force.
Their first deployment was to a building collapse in East Los Angeles on August 30, 2013. Ty and Dennis were able to help determine that no one had been in the house when it fell and that thankfully no one was injured or worse.
With this first deployment under their belt, the team was called out again on January 17, 2014, when it was believed that hikers had gone missing in Claremont, CA. Thankfully, everyone was eventually accounted for, and rescuers called off the search.
Then, on August 4, 2014, following flash flooding and mudslides in San Bernardino County, firefighters searched the Bear Flats area of Mount Baldy when citizens reported that they heard cries for help. Dennis and Ty deployed with two additional canine teams but after a thorough search of the area, determined that no one was in need of assistance.
Dennis and Ty achieved FEMA re-certification on February 21, 2015, as all teams must test every three years in order to maintain active status.
Their final deployment together was on January 10, 2018, when heavy rains in Santa Barbara County produced a mudslide that devastated the small community of Montecito, CA. A few short weeks earlier the Thomas Fire, California’s largest wildfire in history, had burned through the area and as a large storm moved in, emergency officials knew that a mudslide was imminent. First responders were put in place as a precautionary effort but the enormity or the slide was overwhelming. In all, 18 SDF-trained search teams responded, alongside hundreds of rescue workers with various task forces, to help bring people to safety for over a week. It was a physically demanding and emotionally challenging mission, but Ty and his teammates made everyone proud!
Ty and Dennis helped to teach newer canine teams that joined the task force and Ty’s professional career with California Task Force 2 came to an end when he retired on January 31, 2018. Ty enjoyed his senior years with the DiMarzio family as a pet in their home in the Los Angeles area.
On June 2, 2021, Ty crossed the Rainbow Bridge with his best friend Dennis at his side. He was a remarkable dog and loyal companion to the DiMarzio family, and we are all grateful for the time we had with him. Thank you for your service, Ty!
Ty was given his name by longtime SDF friend and Estate Guardian Rosemary Schumacher.