Seven Search Dog Foundation-Trained Search Teams Deploy to Washington Amid Historic Flooding
The Search Dog Foundation (SDF) has announced the deployment of seven specialized canine disaster search teams to Washington state as an unprecedented atmospheric river devastates the Pacific Northwest. Forecasters have categorized the storm as a “100-year flood event,” triggering record-breaking rainfall and catastrophic mudslides that have left thousands of residents in urgent need of assistance.
As floodwaters rise and authorities prepare for the potential evacuation of up to 100,000 people, these SDF-trained teams have been activated alongside their respective Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) task forces to bolster search-and-rescue operations.
The deployed SDF teams include:
- California Task Force 4 (Oakland):
- Alyssa Corsa & Wheeler
- Erik Falkenstrom & Leslie
- Brian Medley & Navy
- California Task Force 7 (Sacramento):
- Brandon Budd & Otter
- Pat Easton & Linus
- Mike Harcos & Buck
- James McCandless & Mac
These teams are trained to navigate the treacherous, unstable terrain typical of mudslides and flooded debris fields—environments where human senses and technology often reach their limits.
“In the wake of a disaster of this magnitude, the precision and speed of a highly trained search dog and their handler are irreplaceable,” said Rhett Mauck, SDF CEO. “Our teams are dedicated to working through challenging conditions to ensure every member of the community is accounted for. We are deeply grateful to these handlers and their canine partners for their readiness to answer the call, and our thoughts remain with the people of Washington during this incredibly difficult time.”
The Search Dog Foundation continues to monitor the situation closely and provide updates as the teams move into impacted regions. For more information on SDF’s deployment history and how to support the 97 active canine disaster search teams across the country trained by SDF, please visit www.SearchDogFoundation.org.
National Disaster Search Dog Foundation
Donate now!www.SearchDogFoundation.org
(888) 4K9-HERO
(805) 646-1015
Executive Director: Rhett Mauck
Mission
Our mission is to strengthen disaster response in America by rescuing and recruiting dogs and partnering them with firefighters and other first responders to find people buried alive in the wreckage of disasters.
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We know you care about where your money goes and how it is used. Connect with this organization’s leadership in order to begin to build this important relationship. Your email will be sent directly to this organization’s Director of Development and/or Executive Director.
Over the years, the Search Dog Foundation has forged numerous partnerships with canine disaster search teams that proudly serve the Los Angeles area. We deeply appreciate the presence of these remarkable canines in our ranks, standing as a steadfast resource we can rely on when summoned to action by the Los Angeles County Fire Department and California Task Force 2. Our task force holds the distinction of being one of only two in the nation with the capacity to deploy internationally, and the indispensable role played by our search dogs cannot be overstated. In the face of earthquakes, hurricanes, mudslides, or the daunting challenge of locating missing persons, these exceptionally trained canines form the bedrock of our search missions. Whether the need arises close to home or on foreign soil, these four-legged heroes ensure that our operations are successful. It is of utmost importance to highlight the unwavering support provided by the Search Dog Foundation, which generously supplies these canines as invaluable assets to our department and task force. This unwavering commitment ensures that we are perpetually ready and equipped to serve our community whenever the call for assistance rings out. Together, we stand united, ready to bring aid and hope in times of crisis.
Sponsor the Canine Heroes
The frequency and strength of recent disasters are stark reminders that they can strike at the heart of any community. In the search for victims, a search dog’s remarkable nose and hard-earned skills mean the difference between days versus minutes, lost versus found, uncertainty versus hope. The National Disaster Search Dog Foundation (SDF) works diligently to ensure canine search teams across America can deploy at a moment’s notice when needed, which includes preparing the next generation of canine heroes.
From the day they arrive on campus to the day they are paired with first responders, SDF spends approximately $75,000 to train a search dog over 10 to 12 months.
SDF is raising $975,000 to train the next search dog graduates. Donors at $20,000 and above can become sponsors of a search dog in training, receiving updates on their progress and milestones throughout their career. Sponsor one or even a pack of canine heroes to be Part of the Search!
Board of Directors
George Leis, Chair, Executive Vice President & Market President, CalPrivate Bank
Richard Butt, Vice-Chair, Retired EVP, Executive Creative Director, VMLY&R
Deborah Whiteley, Secretary, Communications Consultant
Christine DeVries, Treasurer, Retired Financial Services Executive
Elena Brokaw, The Barbara Barnard Smith Executive Director, Museum of Ventura County
Michael Cesare, Management Consultant, KPMG US LLP
Robert Harris, Deputy Fire Chief, Los Angeles County Fire Department
Sydne Levy, Attorney, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck
Andrew MacCalla, Co-Founder and CEO, Collective Energy
Rhett Mauck, CEO, National Disaster Search Dog Foundation
Crystal Wyatt, Leadership in Board Governance and Creative & Sustainable Philanthropy