Team Info
Task Force: California Task Force 7 (CA-TF7)
Agency: West Sacramento Fire Department
Level: FEMA Certified
Search Dog Info
Breed: Black Labrador
Sex: Male
Born: March 1, 2016
Recruited from Private Donor in Bumpass, VA
Sponsor: Patricia Snyder
Named in Honor of Teresa MacPherson
Mac was found in a shelter in Virginia by a wilderness search and rescue handler looking for a second working dog. She had high hopes for Mac, given his innate drive and intellect, but unfortunately, her current search dog made it very clear that their household was not fit for both dogs and Mac would not be a welcome addition to their pack.
Luckily, the handler is a friend of US&R handler and friend to SDF, Teresa MacPherson, who had a perfect career recommendation for this toy-driven and athletic black Labrador Retriever. She suggested Mac be evaluated for SDF, and after his initial tests, he made the journey to California, thanks to volunteer pilot Sean Moran, who quickly jumped at the chance to transport this lively pup! After a smooth flight and formal evaluation, Mac was accepted into our program with a few happy tail wags and enjoyed every minute of his training!
Mac aced our training with ease, blowing trainers away with his dedication, drive, and accuracy. He completed our program quickly and was paired with West Sacramento firefighter James McCandless.
James was previously a U.S. Marine who deployed to Afghanistan, where he saw handlers and their working canines in action sniffing out bombs and narcotics. Interested, James transitioned from being a Marine to being a firefighter and was finally able to apply for a search dog in 2019.
Dedicated and consistent, James visited SDF for a year before attending his training course, remaining patient and flexible due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. Nevertheless, he was officially partnered with his strong and independent canine to become a handler on August 28, 2020.
Mac and James worked together towards FEMA certification, which they achieved in April 2021, enabling them to deploy as part of California Task Force 7 (CA-TF7) and the West Sacramento Fire Department. To date, the team has deployed on the following missions:
- August 9, 2022 – Missing Person Search – Truckee, CA
- November 10, 2022 – Missing Person Search – Nevada County, CA
- January 13, 2023 – Missing Person Search – Nevada County, CA
- September 14, 2023 – Missing Person Search – Colusa County, CA
- April 19, 2024 – Missing Person Search – Nevada County, CA
James and Mac achieved FEMA re-certification, as is required every three years, at their home pile in March of 2024. They will continue to train with their CA-TF7 teammates in preparation for the next time the call comes!
We appreciate everyone who was able to bring Mac and James together, and we look forward to seeing them succeed in the future!