Tennessee Task Force 2 Canine Teams Earn FEMA Certification

Tennessee Task Force 2's (TN-TF2) four highly trained canine search teams earned their individual FEMA Foundational Skills Assessment (FSA) certification, an essential milestone in developing fully deployable Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) canine teams.

Participating TN-TF2 canine teams include:

• Captain Doug Pinkerton & K9 Jager
• Captain Jeff Hubler & K9 Hex
• Engineer Lauren Redding & K9 Churn
• Firefighter Will Smith & K9 Skye

The FEMA FSA evaluates critical capabilities required for disaster search certification.

Canines had to demonstrate the ability to locate live victims, negotiate complex obstacles, work confidently in challenging environments, and respond effectively to handler direction.

Teams conducted rubble pile searches, identified hidden victims using bark alerts, navigated unstable and confined areas, and showed control, obedience, and search discipline throughout the assessment.

The handlers were also evaluated on their strategy, communication, and operational management.

Search canines play an irreplaceable role during structural collapses, tornadoes, hurricanes, flooding, and other disasters. By rapidly locating survivors in debris-heavy or unstable environments, these canine teams significantly accelerate rescue operations when every second counts.

TN-TF2's Canine Program is a coordinated effort involving handlers, canine trainers, medical specialists, logistics experts, and seasoned rescue professionals. Together, they maintain one of the state's most capable and reliable search resources.

TN-TF2 continues to lead the state in high-level training, preparedness, and deployment readiness-ensuring that when disaster strikes, our community can depend on a team equipped with the highest standards of skill and professionalism. The task force remains ready to respond to any hazard, anytime, anywhere.

One of the K9 Jager is the result of a generous donation from Nashville K-9 to the Nashville Fire Department. Jager is an 18-month-old Belgian Malinois who Nashville K-9 rescued from the Williamson County Animal Control after the organization recognized his potential as a working dog.

Jager's name translates from Dutch to "chaser" or "hunter".

Nashville K-9 is one of the Southeast's leading dog training organizations, trusted with training hundreds of dogs each year.

While specializing in consumer pet obedience, the team is also highly experienced in developing working dogs for Police, Search and Rescue, Detection and Personal Protection.

In service to the community, Nashville K-9 voluntarily supports government K-9 units, assists municipalities in police and search efforts, and provides frequent demonstrations for schools, civic groups and local organizations-advancing public safety and responsible pet ownership across the region.