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FEMA Search Canine Evaluation
updated: Feb 27, 2013, 4:07 PM
Source: Santa Barbara County Fire Department
On the morning of February 23rd, in less than optimal conditions, Riley and Santa Barbara County
Firefighter Eric Grey were successful in passing the FEMA Search Canine Evaluation. This is a
mandatory test, taken every three years, that enables Riley and Firefighter Grey to deploy anywhere in
the United States and abroad in the event of a disaster.
Riley, a yellow lab, was bounced around in his early years because he was so
rambunctious and proved to be too much for a couple families to handle. But then he
found the perfect fit: the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation (SDF) training. SDF
trainers said Riley's exuberance and constant desire to be doing something helped him
sail through his training.
"Riley did such an incredible job, said Firefighter Grey. I could not be more proud!"
Leading up to the evaluation, Riley and Eric trained more than normal in order to give
Riley as many scenarios as possible to work through. This required large amounts of
travel in and around the Southern California.
The Santa Barbara Fire Fighters Alliance continues to provide incredible support for
Riley and Eric's training and equipment-at no cost to the fire department.
Riley is a live scent disaster search canine whose job it is to assist Urban Search and
Rescue (USAR) personnel in determining the presence of live people trapped in rubble
following a manmade or natural disaster.
Eric and Riley are assigned to the Regional USAR Team RTF-7 and the State Team
CATF-2. Both teams utilize Eric and Riley in the same manner. State Team CATF-2 (Los
Angeles County Fire Department), is one of the two internationally deployable teams
decreed by the U.S. State Department.
In 2011, Eric and Riley were deployed to Tohoku Japan as part of CATF-2 for nine days
following the catastrophic earthquake and subsequent tsunami to search for survivors.
Send this picture as a postcard
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Comments in order of when they were received | (reverse order)
COMMENT 379544
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2013-02-27 04:26 PM |
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Congratulations Eric and Riley! Way to go!!
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COMMENT 379548
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2013-02-27 04:28 PM |
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That's the way you do it! Good job!
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COMMENT 379556
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2013-02-27 04:36 PM |
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Congrats! Gotta love dogs!! Truly a mans best friend and the most loyal companion
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COMMENT 379562P
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2013-02-27 04:41 PM |
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Bravo! Thanks for the hard work and dedication. I'd love to know what shelter Riley came from, if it was a shelter
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BULLSEYEB
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2013-02-27 05:33 PM |
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Way to go, Eric and Riley! We need teams like you.
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COMMENT 379616
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2013-02-27 06:01 PM |
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Congrats Riley and Eric! You've reached the pinnacle for any pooch. Only the most elite of all canines make it to the top. Awesome.
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BEACHBIKER
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2013-02-27 09:52 PM |
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I love Riley! How wonderful that he found his mission in life with firefighter Grey!
A heartwarming story!
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COMMENT 379729P
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2013-02-27 11:17 PM |
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Here is Rley's story:
http://www.searchdogfoundation.org/zcom/newsletter/ScrapDetail.
do?compid=98&newsid=325
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COMMENT 379734
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2013-02-28 06:36 AM |
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Fantastic!
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COMMENT 379745
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2013-02-28 07:13 AM |
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What a wonderful story. Thank you edhat for beginning my day with an image of such a heartwarming and hopeful future for Riley & Eric and all the people in need that they will be helping :)
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COMMENT 379751
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2013-02-28 07:22 AM |
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Huge thanks to Eric and Riley for their hard work and dedication. So proud to have you here in Santa Barbara!
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COMMENT 379782
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2013-02-28 09:02 AM |
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Thanks, Edhatters, for keeping comments so Positive
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33% of comments on this page were made by Edhat Community Members.
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