From Shelter to Sky: Ventura County Rescue Dogs Train to Deploy by Air

CAMARILLO, Calif. (KEYT) – It’s a big day for several search dogs in Camarillo.

They’re learning to board an aircraft and deploy by air when disaster strikes.

“Making sure we make the right match … and part of that is getting off campus and making sure they get to experience different things … which may include someday on deployment … for instance going up in an aircraft," said senior director Denise Sanders of the Search Dog Foundation.

The National Disaster Search Dog Foundation rescues shelter dogs and transforms them into elite search teams — trained to find survivors buried in rubble.

"We make sure no one gets left behind and can come home ... training like this allows them to be even better at their job and be even faster," said Sanders.

Inside the aircraft, dogs press close to their handlers — adjusting to engine noise, vibration, and tight cabin space.

That's because when they land, there’s no warmup. They go straight to work.

"Any of the animals are prohibited from boarding commercial airlines to get to FEMA deployment because of that limitation there is a critical need for these dogs to get to where they need to go," said chief pilot Michael Kennedy of Fetch Air.

The Search Dog Foundation hopes to expand this training here in our community, so more teams can be ready to fly.”

That expansion could mean faster deployment for emergencies impacting Ventura County, Santa Barbara, and beyond.

Camarillo-based Fetch Air provides the aircraft — helping simulate real-world disaster response.

From shelter kennels to the skies above California, these dogs are preparing for their next call — wherever disaster strikes.

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