“The Australian Shepherd is an intelligent dog with strong guardian instincts. Australian Shepherds are delightful and loyal companions. They love to be part of the daily hustle and bustle. They diligently carry out their responsibilities. They are easy to train, and eager to please.”
We don’t know a lot about Krissy’s history, but we do know that this general description of Australian Shepherds fits Krissy to a tee. When Aussie Rescue of Southern California learned about this beautiful dog, they knew she was very special. They donated Krissy to the Search Dog Foundation (SDF) because they saw the wonderful qualities in her that would make her a great candidate to become a disaster Search Dog.
Krissy spent only a short time in a Prep Home in Ojai, CA with Donna Stephens and her family. She was quickly able to join a group of new canine recruits at Sundowners Kennel for formal training.
Throughout Krissy’s training she showed the exceptional high energy and drive that are so important to a successful career as a disaster Search Dog.
Krissy met her match when she was paired with Fidel Gomez, her new Handler from Tijuana, Baja California. It is a close competition between the two of them to decide who has more energy and drive. Fidel has the kind of energy and drive that most of us only dream of. He is a volunteer EMT for a Rescue Squad in Tijuana. Fidel is also an attorney, teaches law at the University of Tijuana, and owns a hardware store. To top this off, he also has boundless energy for his family.
As Fidel describes his first experience with Krissy, “I went to the van to bring out the last of the dogs in training that we were working with that day. I opened the door of the kennel and out came a very beautiful red and white Australian Shepherd that had an ear tip down and a sassy look on her face. For some reason that looked stayed with me, and I had a feeling I would be partnered with this dog.”
Fidel attended the initial Handlers’ Course, when they were actually paired with their canines, and all of their training sessions with SDF trainers after they were paired. If this was not enough time spent, he also voluntarily translated SDF’s Handlers’ Manual, and many FEMA documents pertaining to disaster search teams, from English to Spanish for all the Tijuana handlers to have for their training.
In March of 2003 Fidel was teamed up with Krissy, the red and white Aussie with the tipped down ear and that sassy look.
Krissy and Fidel quickly became a very strong team. It didn’t happen overnight, but pretty near to it. Every day they worked together their communication skills became more refined and their teamwork grew stronger.
The team had plenty of opportunity to put all of their training and practice into action over the years in the Baja California region, and is to date the most deployed team in SDF history:
2004 – Four mudslides
2007 – Landslide
2008 – Earthquake and missing person search
2009 – Missing person search
2010 – Earthquake
2011 – Building explosion
2012 – Landslide
2013 – Landslide
In all cases the team was able to determine that no survivors were left behind.
Krissy and Fidel always took the time to spread awareness among public servants, new generations of EMTs, and the general public to promote the importance of rescue canines in the state of Baja California. Fidel explains, “We have a firm conviction that by educating people we will ensure long life for the Search Dog program here in Tijuana, Baja California.” Krissy and Fidel’s high energy and teamwork helped ensure the continued success of the program as well. Together, they make a difference.
Over the years, Krissy and Fidel helped strengthen Baja California Task Force 3 (BC-TF3), one of Mexico’s three national urban search and rescue task forces. The team has paved the way for future Search Dogs, making the canine program an integral part of Mexico’s disaster response system.
Sadly, on April 2, 2013, Krissy crossed the Rainbow Bridge with Fidel at her side. Krissy collapsed at home in front of Fidel and his wife Lidia and was not breathing nor had a pulse when he checked her. As Lidia drove them to the veterinary clinic, Fidel performed CPR on his canine partner of ten years until the veterinary staff took over, but unfortunately Krissy was unable to be revived.
As one of the founding members of Baja California Task Force 3’s canine program and one of SDF’s most deployed Search Dogs, Krissy leaves quite a legacy for future Search Dogs and will be greatly missed.
Written and researched by Rachel Edelstein-Penn, Dunkin’ Donuts, Inc. Volunteer, Canton, MA