California Task Force 8's Canine Search and Rescue Teams

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California Task Force 8 (CA-TF8), a FEMA Urban Search and Rescue Team from San Diego, has an extensive canine program and recently introduced four new dogs to their team.

How Search and Rescue Dogs are Chosen and Trained

The dogs, which were obtained from the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation, were paired with handlers from several fire departments that belong to CA-TF8, including the San Diego Fire Rescue Department and the El Cajon Fire Department, and underwent a year's worth of intensive training to become FEMA Certified.  According to San Diego Fire-Rescue Firefighter Brent Brainard, whose new partner is a Labrador Retriever named Fletch, the rescue dogs were chosen by the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation because they exhibited a high drive, something that is not always desirable in a household pet but is an excellent and necessary trait in a search and rescue canine.

Simply put, Brainard says that the dogs are trained using toys, and are taught that when  they find "victims", whether in real scenarios or in training, they are rewarded by getting to play with their toys.  Although the dogs are conducting a serious mission, in their mind their ultimate goal is to find the victim so that they can play. Brainard explains, "So when all is said and done, when I give him the command 'Search', he's just going out and he's looking for his toy, and he knows that when he smells a certain smell and barks a bunch of times, he gets his toy."

Search and rescue canines' careers usually last between eight and ten years, and so it is important for FEMA Urban Search and Rescue Teams to constantly train and build new teams.  Fire Chief Mike Scott of the El Cajon Fire Department and CA-TF8, explains, "If we don't keep a new set of recruits or new dogs in the pipeline, we'll find ourselves short and not have enough resources.  So to bring in four new dogs to the region, in the San Diego area, is important to keep that pipeline in place."

Search and Rescue Canine Handlers

Scott says that the first responders who volunteer to become search and rescue canine handlers are doing it as a labor of love and at their own expense.  He explains, "Most of these handlers do this function with no pay.  They don't earn extra money.  They do it because they love it, and they'll spend that extra twenty hours a week on their own time doing something that they passionately care about."

Despite the personal sacrifices that come with the job, the handlers find it rewarding, as Brent Brainard says of his partnership with Fletch, "Since I've gotten him it's been an absolutely great experience.  He and I have had lots of ups and downs like any partnership would, but the majority of it has been ups."

Additional Information About Obtaining a Search and Rescue Canine

For more information on how your fire department can establish a search and rescue canine team, visit the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation's website.

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