Team Info
Task Force: Nebraska Task Force 1 (NE-TF1)
Agency: Civilian
Level: DHS/FEMA Certified
Most Recent Certification: November 22, 2020
Search Dog Info
Breed: Yellow Labrador
Sex: Female
Born: December 23, 2017
Recruited from: Murray Animal Shelter in Murray, UT
Recruited by: Trevor Lawrence
Sponsor: Tracy & Rascal
Found as a stray wandering the streets of Salt Lake City, Molly caught the eye of shelter staff when they noticed her strong desire to play with her prized ball! Luckily, as soon as shelter staff recognized her high toy drive, they knew she would enjoy a job in search and rescue and contacted SDF recruiter Trevor Lawrence to evaluate the yellow Lab. During her evaluation, Molly exhibited good hunting skills and great footing on the rubble and was accepted by SDF trainers as a search dog candidate upon her arrival in California!
Molly trained extensively for months to be ready for pairing with her new handler, Steve MacDonald.
Steve was paired with Search Dog Lilly in 2010, but after nine years of working together, Lilly began to slow down a bit on the rubble. Steve knew it was time to consider Lilly’s retirement and the possibility of a new canine partner.
The moment Steve saw Molly in one of SDF’s photos, he knew she was the best fit for him! His first impression was that she is smart, intense, quick, and focused—and he learned throughout the SDF Handler Course that his instincts were spot-on. Steve and Molly were officially paired during SDF’s graduation ceremony on September 27, 2019, beginning their partnership together as members of Nebraska Task Force 1.
With a search dog already at home in Nebraska, Molly hasn’t changed much of Steve’s lifestyle—but she has slowly integrated into his routine and become part of his family. Steve knew Molly already had the skills and training to succeed as a search dog and worked extensively with her to create a strong bond.
After lengthy delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Steve and Molly were able to secure a spot to test their skills at the federal level and ensure they met standards to deploy with the task force when disasters strike. The team achieved certification with the Federal Emergency Management Agency in November of 2020.
In her first year as a certified search dog, Molly has deployed three times!
- May 20, 2021 – Missing Person Search – Papillion, NE
- August 5, 2021 – Missing Person Search – Omaha, NE
- August 27, 2021 – Hurricane Ida – New Orleans, LA
We are proud of the relationship Steve and Molly have developed and how they have successfully served their local communities and the nation so far. We cannot wait to see what comes next!