Team Info
Task Force: California Task Force 8 (CA-TF8)
Agency: San Miguel Fire & Rescue
Level: In training to certify
Search Dog Info
Breed: Belgian Malinois
Sex: Male
Born: August 7, 2021
Recruited from the Montana Belgian Malinois and Dutch Shepherd Rescue
Sponsor: Joal Catt Miller
Sid is a brave Belgian Malinois and German Shepherd mix who was once on death row in a Utah shelter. Luckily, the Montana Belgian Malinois and Dutch Shepherd Rescue came to his rescue. Despite being emaciated, Sid was energetic and just wanted to play with a tennis ball. The rescue group saw his potential as a search dog and contacted us to give Sid a chance at a new career.
Sid passed his evaluation and was flown to SDF’s California campus for training, where he quickly adapted and showed promise in obedience and search techniques. After excelling in his training, Sid graduated from our program and was paired with Jose Arteaga of San Miguel Fire & Rescue and California Task Force 8 on March 30, 2024.
Jose Arteaga is a dedicated first responder who is passionate about working with canines in the fire department. After volunteering for two years with the task force, he worked toward becoming a full-time canine specialist with SDF. During SDF’s Handler Training Program, he got the opportunity to work with Sid. Jose shared his first impression of Sid, stating, “When I first met Sid, I found him a little intimidating due to his size and his unwavering focus on his task. This made me put in extra effort to meet his needs and learn how to communicate with him. However, after spending some time with him, I discovered that he was a huge fan of cuddles and affection.”
Jose is excited about his new partner and looks forward to building a strong relationship with Sid. He envisions a life full of adventure and meaningful work for them both and is committed to meeting all of Sid’s needs and providing his partner with a happy and fulfilling life. Most of all, he looks forward to working alongside his best friend. We are thrilled about this partnership and excited to watch them progress in their career. As they embark on this new chapter, we know they will work together to tackle any challenge that comes their way.