In March of 2012, a cheerful mutt named Diva was surrendered by her owner to the Sacramento SPCA. The owner stated that they did not have enough time to devote to Diva and that she would do better in a more active home. They had taken her from a friend who had found her as a stray and though great with people, Diva was chasing chickens and causing a fuss at this new house, and they decided to take her to the shelter to find a more suitable home. Having a long-standing professional relationship with SDF, staff at the Sacramento SPCA contacted SDF volunteer Andrea Bergquist when they observed that Diva had characteristics we typically find desirable in Search Dog candidates.
Andrea, wife to SDF handler and Sacramento City firefighter Chris Bergquist, felt that Diva tested very well. After passing her medical exam, Diva was transported south to begin SDF’s training program. SDF trainer Kellee Matthews noted immediately that Diva had “Good focus, was a natural traveler on rubble, and used her nose well.” The trainers re-named her Roxy and were extremely impressed with her instincts and skills.
On November 5, 2012, Roxy graduated the canine training program and was partnered with Cynthia Sato, a veteran of the U.S. Forest Service who had spent the past seven years as a firefighter/paramedic with the Los Angeles Fire Department.
Cynthia and Roxy joined the ranks of a dedicated group of Los Angeles-based teams and worked hard to keep their tradition of great teams strong. They trained regularly in order to prepare for the FEMA Certification Exam, which they passed on September 21, 2013. This advanced certification meant that Cynthia and Roxy were able to deploy nationwide with California Task Force 1, should they be needed.
Their first call to action came on July 25, 2014, when a structural collapse occurred in Century City, CA. A large planter had fallen from a crane and onto a parking structure. Not knowing if anyone was in their cars at the time, first responders were called to the scene. Cynthia and Roxy worked in tandem with teammates Mike Gross & his canine Journey. Roxy searched the lower levels and crawl spaces while Journey searched the upper levels. Cynthia told us, “I was beyond excited when I got a phone call from my captain to deploy. When we arrived on scene, we split the pile into top and bottom. Neither of the dogs alerted, and we later found out there were no victims: all residents and employees were accounted for. Roxy worked well… all her training and hard work paid off!”
In order to maintain active deployment status, teams must Re-Certify every three years. On June 5, 2016, Cynthia and Roxy traveled to Littleton, MA, where they achieved Certification once again.
Then on January 30, 2017, they responded locally in the Hollywood Hills. Unusually heavy rains across Southern California had softened soil and unfortunately, a landslide occurred, burying houses below in mud and debris. Occupants inside one of the homes called 9-1-1 to report that they were trapped and rescue crews responded to bring them to safety. Roxy and Cynthia were one of two Los Angeles Fire Department canine teams to arrive at the scene in search of additional area residents that may be unaccounted for.
One year later, in January 2018, Roxy and Cynthia responded to Montecito, CA to help search for survivors in the aftermath of a deadly mudslide that covered much of the beachside town. Searching for the better part of a week, Roxy and Cynthia completed this challenging deployment together.
On New Year’s Day, 2022, Roxy officially retired from the L.A. Fire Department and California Task Force 1. She remained a beloved member of Cynthia’s family, enjoying an active lifestyle and being a dedicated big sister to Cynthia’s young son.
At the ripe age of 14, Roxy peacefully crossed the Rainbow Bridge on April 13, 2024. We are grateful for Roxy’s service to her community and the nation and will remember her fondly for many years to come. Like all our four-legged heroes, Roxy will be honored at SDF’s Canine Memorial Wall in Santa Paula, CA.