Posted on 09/01/2010 3:08:34 PM PDT by afraidfortherepublic
Val is not just man's best friend - he's the oldest working employee at the Montebello Fire Department and reportedly the oldest working rescue dog in the nation.
Photo Gallery: Rescue Dogs in Montebello
Val, an Urban Search and Rescue canine with the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation, is retiring after 11 years of service and countless rescue missions.
During his career, with owner and handler Capt. Marc Valentine of the Montebello Fire Department, Val has trained other rescue dogs, searched for survivors through rubble, and offered solace to firefighters responding to Hurricane Katrina.
The golden Labrador mix, which is five months shy of 13, will retire in October, and Rico, a 3-year-old Lab nearing the completion of his training program, will take over.
"Once he retires, Val will get a chance to enjoy being a good pet," Valentine said. "He is as much of this department as anyone else."
Rico, Val's apprentice, is two months shy from his Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) certification, and giving his mentor a well-deserved break.
Val took on many roles beyond the duties of rescue dog during his career. Five years ago, when Val and Valentine were in New Orleans searching for survivors, Val offered firefighters companionship.
"We were far from our homes and families, working 12 hours a day, and trudging through some of the most bleak and devastating scenes you could imagine," Valentine said about his 28-day experience in Louisiana. "At night, firefighters would come back to our camp and we would have our dogs out for the guys to pet and share stories about their pets. The time together gave firefighters a sense of normalcy despite the surroundings. The dogs felt like home," he said. Val and Rico were donated to the Montebello Fire Department by the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation, and are two of 225 dogs in the United States trained for rescue response.
Val and Rico work, eat, sleep and play at the Montebello fire station with firefighters during Valentine's shifts.
And, the station could not be happier, according to Valentine.
"Everyone here is real supportive," he said. "The dogs are great for our morale."
Val and Rico were rescued and trained through The National Disaster Search Dog Foundation. The organization was founded in 1996, after a need for canine response was made apparent to founder Wilma Melville during the Oklahoma bombing rescue efforts.
The foundation is a nonprofit, non-governmental organization based in Ojai, and all of the dogs selected for its program are rescued from shelters and other agencies.
"The agency seeks high-energy dogs, that may otherwise have trouble being placed in average homes," said Amy Nicholas, program manager with the foundation.
"It's like finding a needle in a haystack," Nicholas said.
Once the agency locates a potential candidate they test the dog to determine its potential.
"We are looking for a dog in the right age range, that is an athletic breed and can track a scent," Nicholas said.
"I look for the kind of dog that would rather play fetch all day than eat dinner," she said.
During the prime of his career, Val was deployed on an average of three rescue missions a year.
In the La Conchita landslide of 2005, Val surprised his handler and found the remains of a mother and three children under a pile, even though he is only trained to locate survivors.
The find gave closure to 20 family members who were hanging around the incident, and waiting for more than two days to find their missing loved ones, Valentine said.
As Val nears his retirement, Rico, a comical black Lab, reports to the station to train with Valentine and make himself at home.
"It's going to be up to Rico now," Valentine said, petting the two companions. "These dogs are the best thing that ever happened to my career."
Well done, faithful servant.
It’s funny how the older I get the more I notice such things as old men walking their old, gray faced dogs.....slowly walking along, both meant for each other.
Best friend I ever had, or will ever have.
(or be unleashed from it)
Do the ‘unleashed’ get to run totally wild?? Lol
Thanks for the ping SandRat
The bump on the head might be Golden.
Okay is this a Lab or a Golden or both? She is a good dancer.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nc9xq-TVyHI
Nice story, I hope Val has some happy retirement years!
On looks alone that dog would be easy to love.....
Kind of dog that you come home he has made a mess in the house and you look into that sweet face and instantly forgive him and give hime some lovin......very pretty dog....thanks for the pics....
[snif] Dogs with jobs. I think it’s really cool how these dogs really do seem to “get it”. They really seem to understand their job, and really get into it.
Regarding the lab/golden controversy: Here’s the retriever breeds I’ve always known:
Black Lab: short hair. There’s a “southwest” variant that has shorter, stockier build with a deeper chest. Then a “northern” variant that has longer legs and a more svelte build.
Yellow Lab: Short hair and built just like a black lab, but a light gold/yellow coat.
Chocolate Lab: What you get when you mix a black and a yellow, one or two in the litter.
Golden Retriever: A little lighter build than a black or yellow, but long-haired golden coat. Can be a light yellow to a darker, almost strawberry blonde.
Hope this helps.
More to the point: The dog in this story is what I would call a “Yellow Lab”, not a Golden.
I love this story. I’ve had 3 yellow labs who were goofey as the day is long, but at the same time some of the smartest and most loyal. Hopefully Val will have cushy retirement and people who really love him. Thanks for your service, Val. Good boy!
That’s a Golden through and through. I was just about to post that video to this thread. I just received it in my email. It’s fantastic. I’ve never seen a Golden (or a Lab) that could stand on its hind legs for so long — let alone dance. Poodles yes, Goldens no. Fabulous show.
I look at that photo, and remember some of the old dogs I've had the privilege to know, and it kinda "gets" me *right there*.
I'm still sad about having to put down a 7 yr old smooth tricolor merle collie in May, but I am at the same time so grateful for having had his sweet, completely guileless company that the little frog in the throat when I think of him is accompanied by a smile, and it makes me appreciate his littermate, and my other dog all the more.
Some folks never have the opportunity to be loved so deeply, and that is their loss.
I've figgered it out, though: we are only blessed with dog's company for their short lives because their love is so strong and intense. Then they go back to our creator with progress reports...
I pity those who mistreat, or cannot understand why we care so much for our animal FRiends.
He is a real sweetie and quite a love bug. No way you stay mad at him for anything. He smiles when he’s happy or embarrassed and it’s quite a site to see those lips rolled up in a toothy grin with wrinkles clear to his eyes. :-) He loves people and does not have an aggressive bone in his body. I’ve seen my Jack Russell go afer him and swing from his throat or ears before I could get him off and all he does is stand there and whine until I rescue him. Once I remove the Jack Russell from whatever body part he’s latched onto, Copper rolls his lips up in an embarrassed grin and trys to climb in my lap.
He’s 100lbs heavier than the JRT and could make a snack out of him if he wanted to but he never even growls.
They are sweeties.
Nice thoughts.
The dog in the photo was a rescue and she has since passed away. She was not mine but I loved her as a subject, she had the most wonderful face.
Thanks! :o)
You are welcome.
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