Team Info
Task Force: Oklahoma Task Force 1 (OKC)
Agency: Oklahoma City Fire
Level: SUSAR Type I Certified
Most Recent Certification: May 27, 2016
Search Dog Info
Breed: Black Lab Mix
Sex: Male
Born: March 26, 2008
Crossed Rainbow Bridge: September 9, 2017
Recruited from: Humane Society of Del Norte – Crescent City, CA
Recruited by: Laura Rathe
Guardians: Sandra Sanders, Deb Hartley
Like fellow Oklahoma Training Group Search Dog Jagger, canine Taz was rescued by SDF Volunteer Laura Rathe – this time from the Crescent City Animal Shelter, after she received a call from the shelter about this exceptionally extroverted dog.
Taz arrived at Sundowners Kennels in March of 2008 and passed his evaluation with flying colors, impressing the trainers with his endless energy and drive. Taz was such a driven dog that he is featured climbing a tree to reach his toy in SDF’s Canine Candidate Evaluation video!
Taz graduated from training and was partnered with Oklahoma City firefighter Mark Edwards in November of 2008. He was sent home to live with Mark, his wife Nickie, their four children, and three other Labrador Retrievers.
Mark and Taz trained several times each week and achieved State Urban Search and Rescue Alliance (SUSAR) Type I Certification in Windsor Locks, CT. This advanced search certification means that a team has demonstrated that they have the skills required to perform on deployment during a disaster and successfully locate victims trapped and buried within rubble.
The team first put these skills to use when a tornado struck Oklahoma City on May 10, 2010. Mark and Taz deployed with three of other Oklahoma task force canine teams – Brent Koeninger & Huck, Jason Smith & Jagger, and Dane Yaw and Salsa – to ensure that victims were brought to safety.
On May 24, 2011 Mark and Taz deployed with Oklahoma Task Force 1 to assist citizens affected by a “tornado outbreak” that occurred in the Midwest between May 21st – 26th. Numerous deadly tornadoes touched down in this time period in several regions and the Task Force was there to help with safety and recovery.
Then two years later, in May of 2013, a tornado measuring one mile in width struck Moore, OK and destroyed many parts of the town. Taz was actually at the SDF training center getting additional advanced training when the tornado hit, and staff worked quickly to fly Taz back to Mark immediately. The team was on the ground with the rest of Oklahoma Task Force 1 by the following morning. Mark reported that Taz searched excellently and a day after searching, the Oklahoma governor announced that, thankfully, all Moore citizens were accounted for.
Adhering to the requirement that all U.S. canine search teams be evaluated every three years, Taz and Mark achieved SUSAR Re-Certification in Tulsa, OK in June of 2013, and again in Salina, KS in May of 2016.
Sadly, before the team could complete their careers, Taz was diagnosed with bone cancer in August of 2017. Discovering that little could be done, Taz retired from the task force and one short month later, he crossed the Rainbow Bridge. On September 9, 2017, the Edwards family said a final goodbye to Taz.
At the time of his death, Taz’s teammates were deployed to assist citizens with the aftermath of Hurricane Irma. In their absence, Mark had Taz cremated so that when they could all be together again, the team could say a proper farewell and spread Taz’s ashes at the task force rubble pile.
We’ll miss you Taz. Thank you for your service!