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Meet the amazing Canine Search Teams of Los Angeles County Fire Department We are members of the Los Angeles County Fire K-9 Team. The canines are our family.

We are a National US&R Response System Canine Search Team (handler and canine). Our team plays a critical role during structural collapse incidents, Vehicle over the side calls, wide area searches and various other scenarios. The canines locate survivors, using their incredible sense of smell to detect live human scent, even from a survivor buried deep in rubble or not visible to the human eye. FEMA US&R canine handlers are comprised of firefighters. Most of the certified canines are Labrador Retrievers, German Shepherd Dogs, Belgian Malinois, Border Collies and Golden Retrievers. Canines with high “toy drive” are used for urban search and rescue. It is a game of “hide and seek” for the dog. In training, people hide from the dog with the toy, playing with the dog when found. By the time the dog is on a real search, he is looking willingly for trapped survivors. They are with us 24hrs a day 7 days a week. We train with them in one way or another everyday and are available for responces 365 days a year.

21/10/2026

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the sudden passing of K9 Deacon, a dedicated search dog, a hero to so many, and above all, a beloved best friend.

In September 2017, Deacon was partnered with Captain Toepfer. Together, they earned their certification with CA-TF2, beginning a journey of service that would take them around the world to help those in their darkest moments.

In February 2023, Deacon and Capt. Toepfer deployed to Türkiye as members of USA-02 following the devastating 7.8-magnitude earthquake. In October 2024, they deployed to Florida to assist with rescue efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Milton. Most recently, in October 2025, they answered the call once again, deploying to Jamaica following Hurricane Melissa.

Across every deployment, Deacon brought an incredible nose and determination to each search. Whether navigating challenging rubble piles or working tirelessly to locate those in need, he had a way of leaving everyone who watched him work in awe. His dedication to the mission was matched by his easygoing personality off the clock, making him an extraordinary working partner and an unforgettable companion.

While Deacon’s service touched countless lives, his greatest impact was at home, where he was so much more than a search dog. He was Capt. Toepfer's partner, a loyal companion, and a beloved member of the Toepfer family.

As we grieve this sudden loss, we ask that you keep Capt. Toepfer and the entire Toepfer family in your thoughts. Losing a best friend so unexpectedly is heartbreaking, and we hope they find comfort in the memories, adventures, and unconditional love they shared with Deacon.

Deacon’s legacy will live on through the lives he helped save, the people he inspired, and the lasting impact he made alongside his partner. We are deeply grateful for his years of service and the extraordinary bond he shared with the Toepfer family.

Rest easy, Deacon. You will forever be part of the Los Angeles County Fire Dept. and 𝙇𝘼 𝘾𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙮 𝙁𝙞𝙧𝙚 𝙎𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙘𝙝 𝘿𝙤𝙜𝙨 family. 🌈🐾

29/09/2026

2026 Mars Grant at work!!!

This past weekend, two of our Human Remains Detection (HRD) canine search teams traveled to Sandy, Oregon, to attend the 2nd Annual Full-Body Cadaver Seminar. Under the guidance of instructors Dr. Lisa Briggs and Det. Edwin Grant, our handlers learned from leading experts in the HRD field. Each team pushed their canine partners past their comfort zones by navigating new scenarios outside of standard disaster environments. Because our HRD unit is frequently called to assist outside agencies, this exposure is critical to our operational readiness.

We owe a sincere thank you to PNW Forensic K9 for hosting an incredible weekend of training, and to the instructors for sharing their hard-earned knowledge.

We also want to recognize Mars Inc. () for their incredible partnership. Their ongoing grant support directly funds our teams' ability to attend these top-tier seminars, ensuring we remain prepared for when the next disaster strikes or the call to assist comes in.

13/09/2026

A piece of our team now lives on the walls of O'Hara's Restaurant & Pub in Lower Manhattan.

Yesterday marked the 25th anniversary of September 11. We pause to remember the nearly 3,000 innocent lives taken that morning, and we solemnly honor the 343 FDNY firefighters who ran into the towers and made the ultimate sacrifice. To pay his respects, K9 Handler Capt. Gudiel traveled to Ground Zero to attend the memorial ceremonies. While there, he upheld a time honored first responder tradition.

Just a block south of the World Trade Center site, O’Hara’s stands as a living monument. It survived the attacks and became a sanctuary for rescue workers in the heavy months that followed. Today, its walls hold thousands of patches from fire, police, and military units worldwide.

Capt. Gudiel added our K9 teams patch to that collection. We leave it there as a mark of brotherhood with the FDNY, the NYPD, and all who answered the call. For our team, it also carries an additional, specific weight: it is a quiet tribute to the over 300 search and rescue canines who worked the rubble of Ground Zero, the Pentagon, and Shanksville twenty-five years ago. Those dogs and their handlers pushed through unimaginable conditions to search for survivors and bring closure to families. Their dedication laid the foundation for the modern urban search and rescue canine programs we have today.

We carry their legacy forward on every deployment.

We will never forget! 🇺🇲

08/07/2026

Our team returned home last night after nearly two weeks in Venezuela. They deployed under the U.S. Department of State (USA-2) following the devastating 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude twin earthquakes that struck the country's central region on June 24. While it is wonderful to have our six canine teams safely home, the people they met and the experiences they shared will remain with them long after this deployment.

While operating in La Guaira, the team was assigned a local English interpreter named Miguel, who worked alongside them throughout their mission. During an early reconnaissance assignment, Miguel captured a photo of K9 Mattis taking a brief rest atop the rubble. He later shared the image with his 11-year-old daughter, who immediately fell in love with Mattis. Inspired by the photo, she printed it, turned it into a handmade postcard, and wrote a heartfelt message on the back before asking her father to give it to Mattis' partner, FFPM Medina.

Although the postcard was meant for Nick and Mattis, its message touched every member of the task force. What struck them most was this: the people enduring unimaginable loss were still finding ways to lift the spirits of those who had come to help. It is profoundly humbling to receive such kindness from a community living through tragedy. That resilience, generosity, and compassion are something our team will never forget.

To Miguel, his daughter, and the people of Venezuela: thank you for welcoming our team with such warmth and appreciation throughout their mission. Although the deployment has come to an end, the search and recovery efforts continue. Our thoughts remain with the families still waiting for answers, the first responders continuing this difficult work, and every community affected by these devastating earthquakes. We hope every missing person is brought home.

Sometimes the smallest gestures leave the biggest impact. This handwritten postcard will forever remind our team that these missions are about far more than search and rescue—they're about people.

07/07/2026

REPOST: Los Angeles County Fire Dept.
Our LACoFD USA-2 team has completed its U.S. Department of State deployment in Venezuela and is heading home.

We are deeply honored by the privilege to assist and humbled by the fortitude of the Venezuelan people.

We thank the U.S. Department of State, our USA-1, USA-10, and USA-11 counterparts, and the many global and local first responders we had the honor of working alongside throughout this mission.

We keep the Venezuelan people in our thoughts and prayers as they recover and rebuild.

K9Jet

04/07/2026

REPOST: U.S. Southern Command
Transporting elite disaster response experts A United States Marine Corps MV-22B Osprey transports a Los Angeles County Urban Search and Rescue team-including specialized search-and-rescue dogs and their handlers-in Venezuela, June 28, 2026, in support of earthquake relief efforts.

U.S.military forces are providing key airlift support to U.S. Department of State-led U.S.government relief operations following the devastating earthquakes that struck the nation on June 24. 2026.

03/07/2026

REPOST: Los Angeles County Fire Dept.
Operations continue in , as USA-02 members, including canine search teams, continue to work on structures in some of the hardest-hit areas.

Using specialized and heavy equipment, members are able to delayer the fallen structures and access spaces where survivors may still be trapped. less

02/07/2026

REPOST: Los Angeles County Fire Dept.
While a search and rescue K9's primary iob is saving lives, their role doesn't end when the search stops.

Amidst the rubble and devastation of a disaster, these remarkable dogs offer an unspoken language of comfort. A simple, quiet moment of connection, a wagging tail or a gentle nudge, can provide a beacon of hope when it is needed most.

And to our canine handlers, we acknowledge the unbreakable bond between handler and dog, the rigorous daily training, and the countless hours spent on the frontline of natural and man-made disasters. 🐕🐕‍🦺🐾

K9Jet

29/06/2026

REPOST: Los Angeles County Fire Dept.
Yesterday (6/28), USA-2 remained on the ground in Venezuela, conducting 24/7 search and rescue operations across multiple collapsed structures. Our mission is supported by elite canine search teams trained in:

* Scent Detection: Trained to bypass destructive noise and hunt specifically for living humans in rubble.

* Rapid Response: When a dog alerts its handler to a "find," rescue teams immediately move in to breach concrete and steel.

Alongside local first responders and international partners, our USA-2 team remains dedicated to this U.S. Department of State mission, providing critical aid in this time of great need to the Venezuelan people.

🎥 USA-2
📸 USA-2 & Rafael Hernandez Marcano (Rafael Hernández Marcano)

27/06/2026

REPOST: Los Angeles County Fire Dept.
Answering the Call

USA-2 international team members, including 71 members and six K9 teams from the LA County Public Works and
LA Health Services are en route to Venezuela.

We are proud and thankful to represent the U.S. on this mission, bringing our expertise and compassion to assist those affected by the devastating earthquakes.

U.S. Department of State

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