Search Teams

Our Search Teams

Baja California Task Force 3 (BC-TF3)

California Regional Task Force 7 (CA-RTF7) Ventura County

California Task Force 1 (CA-TF1) Los Angeles City

California Task Force 2 (CA-TF2) Los Angeles County

California Task Force 3 (CA-TF3) Bay Area

California Task Force 4 (CA-TF4) Oakland

California Task Force 5 (CA-TF5) Orange County

California Task Force 7 (CA-TF7) Sacramento

California Task Force 8 (CA-TF8) San Diego

Nebraska Task Force 1 (NE-TF1)

New York Task Force 2 (NY-TF2)

Oklahoma Task Force 1 (OK-TF1)

Utah Task Force 1 (UT-TF1)

Virginia Task Force 1 (VA-TF1)

Virginia Task Force 2 (VA-TF2)

Stryker & Justin Montgomery

Stryker & Justin Montgomery

 

Team Info

 

Task Force: Oklahoma Task Force 1 (Tulsa)
Agency: Tulsa Fire
Level: Certified

 

Search Dog Info

 

Breed: Yellow Lab
Sex: Male
Born: August 28, 2019
Recruited from: Little Angels Service Dogs
Sponsor: B & B Foundation

 

 

 

Stryker came to us as a career change from Little Angels Service Dogs, a San Diego, CA, nonprofit that partners service dogs with the disabled. Stryker’s toy drive proved too intense for Little Angel’s program, so his trainer drove Stryker to SDF to be evaluated as a search dog trainee. Luckily for us, Stryker’s high energy fit the bill as a potential urban search and rescue candidate, and he was accepted into our program!

 

Because of his prior training, this dynamic yellow Labrador came ready and willing to retrieve, with a lot of impulse control around the toy. Despite his love of the retrieve game, he did not realize that tugging the toy was also encouraged. Trainers worked hard to develop Stryker’s toy play and tug game, and within a few short foundational sessions, they found his pushy side – Stryker LOVES to tug now!

 

Stryker is a quick learner who seems built for search! He flew through his obedience elements in what could be record time and quickly progressed through the program. Trainers were always impressed with Stryker – even though he’s a big lug, he’s a smart and biddable boy who always wants to do the right thing.

 

On July 2, 2022, Stryker was paired with Justin Montgomery of the Tulsa Fire Department and Oklahoma Task Force 1. A firefighter for six and half years before adding Canine Search Specialist to his resume, Justin was drawn to this career because he loves to help people in need. He also likes the adrenaline rush of going on different calls and the brotherhood of the department, which is like a second family.

 

Justin became interested in working with search dogs when a canine handler transferred to his station and brought his dog to work with him. It was fascinating to see everything the dog could do! He heard about SDF through other handlers on his task force while volunteering with them, and soon enrolled in the search program himself.

 

Justin says he and Stryker began to “click” about the third or fourth time they trained together. He felt a connection to Stryker that improved their performance as a team, and he could not be more thrilled that they are official partners.

 

The team’s hard work together paid off when they achieved certification through the State Urban Search and Rescue Alliance (SUSAR) operating system on April 15, 2023! This means that the team is eligible to deploy with their task force teammates when disasters occur within the region or as the need arises locally.

 

The first call came on May 7, 2024, when a strong tornado ripped through Barnsdall, OK. Justin shared, “Stryker got to go on his first deployment… He did great! We had paws on the ground in Barnsdall, OK at 01:30 and headed home at 13:54. It was a long night and day of searching but all the K9s did great!” Multiple agencies were deployed to assist citizens and comb through the wreckage of homes, rubble, and storm debris, finally heading home once everyone was accounted for.

 

We are so proud of their hard work and cannot wait to see all they accomplish together!