Team Info
Task Force: California Task Force 2 (CA-TF2)
Agency: Los Angeles County Fire
Level: FEMA Certified
Search Dog Info
Breed: Black Lab
Sex: Male
Born: December 16, 2018
Recruited from: Dogs for Better Lives in Central Point, OR
Sponsor: Ann Cooluris
Along with litter mate Bonus, Bond was originally intended for a life of service at Dogs for Better Lives (DBL)—a non-profit organization in Central Point, Oregon that professionally trains service and companion dogs. While being fostered as puppies, though, the siblings’ true personalities emerged, and they were deemed too energetic to be successful service dogs.
Luckily for them, high drive isn’t an ideal characteristic for an assistance dog, but it’s perfect for search and rescue! SDF and DBL had worked together to network dogs in the past, and this partnership allowed both pups the opportunity to be evaluated as search dog candidates—an evaluation they passed with flying colors!
On December 11, 2020, Bond graduated SDF’s formal training program and was paired with John Paul “JP” Hilsabeck, a Firefighter/Paramedic with the Los Angeles County Fire Department. The new team trained rigorously with their California Task Force 2 (CA-TF2) teammates and achieved FEMA certification in October 2021, allowing them to deploy around the globe when CA-TF2 responds to requests for help.
JP and Bond are a strong duo who continued to sharpen their search skills as they awaited their first call to duty, a devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck Turkey, Syria, and the surrounding region early on February 6, 2023.