Many times, dogs are specifically bred for high-stakes jobs. Protection dogs, K-9s and guide dogs are often from proven, respected lines.
But that doesnāt mean other dogs canāt be good candidates, and lately, it seems that there has been a trend of pulling from rescues and shelters when dogs exhibit traits that would make them good at a particular job.
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Forrest is one of those pups. Plucked from a Rescue situation in Oregon, the black labrador retriever has shown that he has a penchant for search and rescue work.
According to People, he began his training last August and has become part of an elite team of handlers and dogs who graduated from the National Disaster Search Dog Foundationās program on May 28.
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āForrest did very well, showing trainers every day that he loved to hunt (and to bark)!ā read a statement from Farmerās Insurance, which teams up with the Search Dog Foundation to locate and train the dogs.
āHe was also introduced to building searches, where his confidence soared, and he thrives. Forrest loves to use his nose to hunt ā itās one of the most rewarding things for him.
āTrainers also played with him on the rubble with the toy to show him that being on the uneven surface of the concrete can be fun. Forrest has become incredibly confident in finding his footing and enjoyed all the elements of training.ā
The company added that despite his size ā as a 100-pound Dog ā heās āa very big Dog who is light on his feetā and a āgentle giant.ā
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Tom Simons with the Salt Lake City Fire Department was assigned as Forrestās handler, and together the two are now proud members of Utah Task Force 1.
āHere are the new teams!ā the Salt Lake City Fire Department posted on Facebook on Sunday. āOnce again we are very proud of each of these individuals.ā
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Simons and Forrest will spend some time getting to know each other and will no doubt be an asset in whatever situations they encounter, as the rescued Dog becomes the rescuer.
According to his Facebook page, Simons lost a beloved black labrador earlier this year, so Forrestās arrival seems timely. Heās already showing off his new partner as Forrest gets settled in.
āHavenāt even had my boy a week, and heās already a star!ā Simons posted on Friday. āSo excited to see where this journey with Forrest takes me!ā
This article appeared originally on The Western Journal.