Team Info
Task Force: California Regional Task Force 7 (CA-RTF7)
Level: Certified
Search Dog Info
Breed: Labrador Retriever
Sex: Female
Born: September 1, 2021
Recruited from private donor in Utah
Sponsor: Stephen and Kathleen Davis
Roka, a beautiful Black Labrador Retriever, had been raised by a couple in Utah since she was a puppy in 2021. When life changes occurred and they could no longer keep her, Roka was listed for adoption. SDF canine recruiter, Trevor Lawrence, noticed the advertisement for an energetic young lab and reached out to see if Roka would have all the characteristics we look for in search dog candidates.
Following a successful evaluation, Roka was transported to SDF’s National Training Center in California, where she was formally accepted into our training program. She exceled at searching on rubble piles and her sweet disposition made her easy to love.
Unfortunately, Roka suffered from digestive problems and SDF tried many different types of food and feeding processes to resolve the issues. During this time, Roka was fostered by SDF’s Senior Director of Canine Operations, Tracy Darling. Tracy gave Roka the medical attention and TLC she required at home and then brought her to work every day to train. Eventually, the decision was made not to pair Roka with a task force handler because we did not want them to struggle with potential health problems in a canine partner, especially out in the field while on a lengthy deployment.
However, Tracy had grown quite attached to Roka and wanted to help her reach her full potential as a search dog. A Canine Search Specialist herself, on California Regional Task Force 7 in Ventura County, Tracy officially decided to partner with Roka in 2024, and the two achieved certification January 10, 2025. Roka is now eligible to deploy locally as needed to assist Ventura County residents!
Roka continues to come to work with Tracy on a regular basis to train and visit all her friends on our staff. At home, Roka fits right in with the Darling family’s pack of active and retired search dogs. She is very loved, well cared for, and part of a dynamo live-find canine team!