Idaho Disaster Dogs Search and Rescue

10/24/2026

09/25/2026

Update:
The Task Force is expected to check in, secure their gear, and get a medical check early this evening.
The team will leave DIA on an early morning flight tomorrow (Friday).
Original post: Colorado Task Force 1 (CO-TF1) is being activated ahead of Tropical Storm Nolo, which is expected to strengthen into a hurricane and could make landfall on Hawaii’s Big Island as early as Friday.
Sixteen members of the team are deploying. They will head out early this evening, ready to support search and rescue operations if needed.
We’ll share more as the team makes its way to Hawaii.

09/13/2026

Please welcome K9 Rush to the Team! We will be sharing more about her adventure with her handler Ryan and the team as time goes on
Welcome K9 Rush!

09/05/2026

The 3Cs are an amazing charity in our community and I’m sure they would love your support at this event. Also some of the Idaho disaster dogs will be attending, so please stop by and say hi

07/27/2026

The warm weather offers unique training opportunities:

- Boat training presents the K9s with a different approach to travel to and from potential search sites.
- It builds their confidence in adverse environments.
- It continues to solidify a bond between handler and K9.
- It also allows a scent picture that is out of the ordinary.

Most extraordinary boat training on the water allows the K9s to practice scent detection in the water.

But you’re probably wondering, “Can dogs smell people underwater?”
Not exactly, they detect human scent that escapes from beneath the surface and pools or drifts on the water. Water conditions like depth, current, temperature, and water movement all influence how scent reaches the surface. Trained search K9s can successfully detected scent from significant depths. With up to 300 million scent receptors (compared to our 5–6 million), allow them to detect odors at concentrations far beyond human ability.

06/25/2026

USA-01 is mobilizing a 79-person, 6-dog heavy urban search and rescue team for the U.S. Department of State response to the Venezuelan earthquakes.

Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department

05/21/2026

K9 Lady and K9 Handler Neko Caballero recently traveled to complete their FEMA Live Find Certification Evaluation (CE) recertification and successfully passed 🎉🥳

Below is a breakdown of what the certification process looks like and how each element relates to real world deployment operations.

The FEMA Live Find Certification Evaluation tests far more than a K9’s ability to simply locate a victim. It evaluates how a K9 team solves realistic search problems under the uncertainty and complexity of deployment.

• Full Access: The handler and K9 work the search site together, reinforcing teamwork, communication, and the handler’s ability to read and support the dog throughout the search.

• Limited Access: The handler begins from a predetermined location, often off site and out of sight, and cannot move unless the K9 locates a victim. This reinforces the dog’s ability to search independently and can simulate environments that are unsafe or inaccessible for rescuers. It also tests the handler’s trust in the K9 and the ability to direct the dog at a distance.

• Victim Loyalty: The K9 must remain committed to a victim source and avoid leaving a find to continue searching elsewhere.

• Unknown Number of Victims: Teams are never told how many victims are present, reinforcing thoroughness and search discipline.

Like and comment to help us celebrate the accomplishments of our hard working handlers and K9s😁

05/15/2026

K9 Skye goes backpacking. Skye is sponsored by

05/09/2026

05/02/2026

K9 Skye getting ready for PT with the crew