JFRD Canine Team Expands To Nine Following Evaluation

April 06, 2026

Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department’s Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) Canine Team recently demonstrated its commitment to excellence on Friday, April 3, with five dogs completing Canine Search Team Certification Evaluation (CE) testing, and one new member earning a place on the team.

The evaluations tested each handler and canine’s ability to locate victims in complex search environments. It also assessed obedience and agility, and performance under high-pressure conditions that mirror real-world disaster response.

CE testing is the nationally recognized standard for search and rescue canine certification and is required for deployment on the Urban Search and Rescue Task Force.

The five dogs evaluated were:

K9 Alice, handled by Engineer Christopher Foote
K9 Cricket, handled by Engineer Michael Nelson
K9 Goose, handled by Engineer Sarah Daniels
K9 Mack, handled by Engineer Kyle O’Connor
K9 Onyx, handled by Engineer Doug Lee

Canine Alice, handled by Engineer Foote, successfully passed evaluation and is now officially part of the team, bringing JFRD’s K9 roster to nine certified canine teams.
“These evaluations are rigorous, and passing them is no small accomplishment,” said Engineer Michael Nelson, JFRD Canine Team Manager. “Adding a new certified team to our roster strengthens our ability to respond when called upon.”

JFRD’s K9 program is a component of Florida Task Force 5 (FLTF-5), and is available for local, state, and federal deployments during disasters.