Originally named Addee Kiss, Allie was donated to SDF by her owner Kaelene of Clifton, CO when she realized this border collie was more than she could handle in a pet. Teri Thomas, who had helped us to recruit search dog Chief back in 2010, helped to evaluate and facilitate getting Addee Kiss to Santa Paula, California. “She never stopped moving, 5 minutes after waking up she would want to play all day long!” Teri told SDF staff.
Once Addee Kiss arrived at SDF’s National Training Center, Trainer Sonja Heritage reported, “She passed her official evaluation with flying colors! Talk about high drive!”
She was re-named “Allie,” a name that was chosen by long-time SDF supporter Barbara Phelps. Over the years Barbara has been a Guardian to three SDF search dogs: Ana, Sandi and Chief. SDF wanted to thank Barbara for all she has done for our teams and honor her with the special gift of a canine naming.
Allie progressed quickly through the training program and weekly reports from the trainers were beaming! “She continues to improve very well each day. She sure has lots of energy and is starting to really sail over the rubble while searching!” She hit a little stumbling block several months into training and seemed to lose interest in the search game, but after testing several types of toys made of different materials, Allie went wild for a faux sheepskin toy. Of course, it made sense that a Border Collie would! SDF had special toys handcrafted and sewn just for Allie to keep her job as a Search Dog the most exciting game of hide and seek on the planet!
Allie graduated from SDF’s training program on February 28, 2015, when she was partnered with Fire Safety Inspector Tom Carney of the South San Francisco Fire Department. Tom was a veteran SDF handler and he and Allie achieved Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Certification in March of 2016.
Tom and Allie deployed together for the first time when Hurricane Irma struck Florida and the Virgin Islands, causing widespread destruction and taking 134 lives, in September 2017. It was the strongest hurricane to make landfall in the U.S. since Katrina in 2005, and FEMA sent in many teams from all over the country to assist citizens. Tom and Allie were there with 15 other SDF-trained teams for two full weeks.
They went out the door a second time when a cliff collapsed at a San Francisco area beach On February 22, 2019. At least one person was suspected to be trapped under the debris and upon arrival at the scene, Allie searched immediately for the woman with teammate Vader. Unfortunately, the woman had passed away under the collapse and there was nothing that could be done—a sad reality of working in search and rescue.
On September 3, 2019, Tom and Allie headed east to help citizens affected in Florida and the Carolinas by Hurricane Dorian. Once everyone was accounted for, FEMA teams were allowed to return home.
In 2024, Allie retired from the department and California Task Force 3. She remains in the Carney home as a family pet and is very loved. We appreciate all that Tom and Allie did for Bay Area residents, their community, and their country!