SDF Canine-Firefighter Disaster Search Teams
Deployed to Find Hurricane Katrina Victims

Twenty-six Search Dog Foundation Advanced-Certified canine teams have been called out by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to search for people buried alive in the wreckage left by Hurricane Katrina.

Four SDF Florida teams and one Ohio team were immediately deployed to the areas hardest hit, and began searching on Tuesday, August 30th. Twenty-two of SDF's California teams were activated Wednesday and are traveling by bus, pick-up and emergency vehicle to the state of Mississippi.

The critical importance of these canine teams was underscored today with the discovery of a 70 year-old man buried alive under the debris of his home in Biloxi, Mississippi. According to today's news, the find was made by a FEMA-certified canine search team connected to a Midwest Task Force.

Each Urban Search & Rescue (USAR) Task Force is comprised of teams of first responders trained to perform post-disaster rescue operations. Key components of these teams are the disaster search dogs. The dogs "clear" each area to make sure no one alive has been left in the debris. Their remarkable sense of smell, and unparalleled ability to navigate dangerous terrain faster and more safely than any other "tool" in the first responder's toolbox, makes search dogs an invaluable asset to the search and rescue efforts.

Many of these heroic canines were deployed to Ground Zero, and, since then, have served valiantly in local and regional disasters-including California's La Conchita and Laguna mudslides, the Los Angeles commuter train derailment, and the devastating 2004 hurricanes that ravaged South Florida.

"When a major disaster occurs, families depend on canine search teams to make sure that their loved ones are safe, and that no one has been left behind in the wreckage. Our canine search teams were on high alert during last year's hurricanes and are now serving the states hit by Katrina this 2005 season," says Debra Tosch, SDF Executive Director.

The Search Dog Foundation is a non-profit that trains and provides highly skilled search teams at no cost to fire departments, and other emergency service agencies throughout the country. Most SDF dogs are recruited from shelters and breed rescue groups: from rescued to rescuer.

SDF TEAMS DEPLOYED TO HURRICANE:

CA TF (California Task Force) 1
Howard Orr & Duke (Santa Barbara Fire)
Deresa Teller & Ranger (Los Angeles City Fire)
Debra Tosch & Abby (Civilian Handler, SDF Executive Director)
Ron Weckbacher & Manny & Dawson (Civilian Handler)

CA TF2
Brian Marshall & Ross (Kern County Fire)
Dan Solis & Sandi (Kern County Fire)
Cliff Kolthoff & Jeff (Kern County Fire)
Carrie Henger & Doc (L.A. County Fire)

CA TF4
Jim Boggeri & Recon (Marin County Fire)
Jeff Place & Zack (Fremont Fire)
Sergio Morariu & Tammy (Fremont Fire)

CA TF 5
Marc Valentine & Val (Montebello Fire)
Su Vodrazka & Hero (L.A. Sheriff's Dept)
Steve Pendergrass & Marc (Kern County Fire)

CA TF6
John Thomas & Mocha (Murietta Fire)

CA TF7
Randy Gross & Dusty (Sacramento Metro Fire)
Rick Lee & Ana (Sacramento City Fire)
Ron von Allworden & Jessie (Sacramento Metro Fire)
Teresa Ortenburger & Ace (Civilian Handler)

CA TF8
Steve Swaney & Sherman (El Cajon Fire)
Kelly Gordon & Aspen (Montebello Police Dept.)
Linda D'Orsi & Cody (Chula Vista Fire)

Florida TF 1
Mike Conners & Hobbes (Coral Gables Fire & Rescue)

Florida TF2
Sylvia Arango & Abby (Civilian Handler)

Orlando State TF
Marshia Hall & Trapper (Temple Terrace Fire)

Ohio TF1
Athena Robbins & Gator (Bellbrook Fire)

Interested in Supporting K9-SAR teams in the field? Click here for details: