A beautiful Black Lab with loving eyes and a wagging tail, Jezzie had been sitting for many weeks at the Sacramento County Animal Control. Thankfully, Jezzie’s last day at the shelter was different from the others. She was given a second chance at life.
On that fateful day at the shelter, Julie Lupkin & Rhonda Ridgley from Daisy Dog Rescue saved Jezzie from her scheduled euthanasian. Seeing in Jezzie the characteristics of a first-class Search Dog, they contacted the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation (SDF), and within days she was off to her new career as a Search Dog candidate.
When Rhonda recalled the day she met Jezzie, she said, “When I looked into her eyes, they seemed to say, ‘Just give me a chance and I won’t let you down!’”
Rescue groups routinely make visits to shelters in an attempt to give dogs another chance to find their place in life. Luckily for SDF, individuals like Julie and Rhonda have learned what characteristics we seek in future Search Dogs and are able to contact us when they come across a dog that seems like a good fit for this type of work. Rhonda said, “SDF has since become my first choice for the dogs we rescue. The dogs have a great life and they’re doing a tremendous service. These dogs will give everything they have for their handler and their job, and the Foundation recognizes and understands that each one of these dogs is special. SDF has proven to me that they are dedicated to insuring that never again will any one of these dogs be a ’throw-away‘ again.”
In March of 2003, after six months of formal training with SDF’s Lead Trainer Pluis Davern, Jezzie was partnered with Antonio Galvan, one of SDF’s handlers in the State of Baja California, Mexico. Spunky, feisty and spirited, Jezzie earned praise and affection from Antonio. “She’s great!” Antonio beamed with pride. “My family loves her. I am very happy. She likes to run, really run. At first, I thought she would run away, but now she comes back. She really listens and I trust her a lot.”
When first paired, the team was still working on obedience. “She gets excited,” Antonio said back then, “And she likes to jump, but she’s starting to settle down. She’s learning that her training is serious.” Antonio and Jezzie practiced their search techniques on the rubble that was part of a local landslide. Antonio was confident his Jezzie would have no problem testing to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) standards.
Montebello Firefighter and Tijuana Team Leader Fernando Pelaez was very proud of Jezzie and Antonio. He told us, “The first year is such a challenging time. But the team is starting to gel. They’re sealing the match. Six months ago Antonio couldn’t walk down the street without Jezzie wanting to take off. But now, Jezzie accepts Antonio as his boss. Jezzie used to look at Antonio as if to say, ‘I’m tired. I don’t know what you want. Be more specific.’ Now Antonio is learning how to read his dog.”
“Antonio is the perfect partner for Jezzie,” said Fernando, who praised Antonio for his determination to work with his dog. “Jezzie is smart and testy; Antonio is easy-going. Jezzie wants lots of attention and Antonio gives it to her.”
Fernando had to work hard, too. As team leader, he had four other dogs and their handlers to bring up to FEMA Advanced Certification standards. Sometimes he had to be tough on the handlers and he pushed them to push their dogs. “I tell them to treat each practice search like a real-life disaster scenario. The dogs have a job to do. It takes discipline, balance and a good work ethic on the part of the handler and canine partner. The dog has to understand that they’ll get their reward when they find the ’victim.’”
During their careers, Antonio and Jezzie were sent on several deployments to aid citizens in Tijuana:
- December 14, 2004 – Mechanic shop wall collapse
- December 22, 2004 – School wall collapse
- January 11, 2005 – La Obredja Mudslide
- February 27, 2005 – Mudslides at Fraccionamiento los Lobos
- October 14, 2006 – Trench collapse
After a lengthy and busy career in the world of search and rescue, Antonio made the decision to retire Jezzie on February 1, 2011. Jezzie lived with Antonio and his family in their home as a beloved pet for several more years. On September 5, 2015, at the age of 14, Jezzie crossed the Rainbow Bridge but will forever remain a hero in our hearts.