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 to SDF’s preliminary training kennel at the time in Castaic, CA by SDF Handler Eric Darling, 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.
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 throughout his 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. Since January 31, 2018, Stetson now spends his days relaxing in Los Angeles, although he can still play fetch for days!
Stetson was given his name by longtime SDF friend and supporter Jack Teeters.