Issuu

SEPTEMBER 2026

K9 PROTECTOR JACKSON // PG 12

Volume 7 \\ Issue No. 9

HEART OF A DRAGON GIBBONS // PG 28

RAPID CITY'S

WARM, FUZZY FEELING BRUSSEAU // PG 4

POODLE WITH A PURPOSE CRUMP // PG 22

BEST FRIEND WORKING DOGS EDITION

TOTAL

skin

CARE

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MEET OUR TEAM

Linda Fromm, MD

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Gregory Wittenberg, MD

(605) 508-3000 sanfordhealth.org

Jessica Rachetto, PA-C

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AS GOOD AS GOLD

BUILT ON TRUST

Crump // SD Service Dogs Brusseau // RAPAWS Zada Jones Wade Ellett

MATCH MADE IN SERVICE

Gibbons // Fire Dept Shiloh Francis

Jackson // Police Dept Michelle Pawelski

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DROGON

BRAVO

HOONI

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CONTENTS

YOU GET CLOSE TO THESE DOGS. YOU HAVE TO PUT HIM IN THESE SITUATIONS. HE IS A TOOL, AND HE’S MEANT TO PROTECT OFFICERS AND THE PUBLIC, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, HE’S MY PARTNER, AND I DON’T WANT TO SEE HIM GET HURT."

SEPTEMBER 2026 // Vol. 7 // Issue No. 9

Cover photo by Bailey Sadowsky

2 // MATCHING GAME 3 // SEPT EVENTS

WHAT'S INSIDE

GLENN’S GUIDE TO THE SEPTEMBER ISSUE OF ELEVATE

Every day, working dogs are serving our community in ways we may never see. They protect our streets, stand ready when disaster strikes, bring comfort in difficult moments, and give people the confidence to move forward.

ELEVATERAPIDCITY.COM

- EKARAS JACKSON

In this issue of Elevate, we meet the dogs and the people beside them, whose work makes a difference across the Black Hills. From K9 teams built on

years of training and trust to therapy dogs offering a little joy, and service dogs becoming true battle buddies, each partnership is uniquely shaped by the job they are called to do. Together, their stories show just how much four paws can do for a community.

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PRESIDENT & CEO Jack Valentine

SPECIAL PROJECTS DIRECTOR Laura Jones

SR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT & PARTNERSHIPS DIRECTOR Taylor Davis

ECOSYSTEM SUPPORT & PROPERTY MANAGER Loni Reichert

SR MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR Shiloh Francis

BUSINESS PROSPECT MANAGER Drew Staufer

SR PUBLIC POLICY DIRECTOR Garth Wadsworth SR BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR Kallie Ruland OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Liz Highland CREATIVE SERVICES DIRECTOR Bailey Sadowsky

EVENTS & MARKETING MANAGER Kamryn Wainwright INVESTOR SALES MANAGER Adam Braun WORKFORCE PROGRAMS MANAGER Krystal Bresnahan EXECUTIVE ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Ashley Simonson

ELEVATE | SEPTEMBER 2026 | 1

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@ELEVATERAPIDCITY

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connect with us

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Bailey - H Taylor -B, L Loni - S Ashley - A Laura - C, F

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ASHLEY

TAYLOR

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2026

EVENTS

September 3

September 12–13

watikiwaterpark.com/events

Main Street Square visitrapidcity.com

WATIKI® AFTER DARK WaTiki® Indoor Waterpark Resort

CRAZY DAYZ

September 13

September 5

TOM ARNOLD COMEDY SHOW The Box

thebox.live/events-calendar

September 19

STEAM SATURDAYS: MOVING MONUMENT The Journey Museum

journeymuseum.org

JEFF DYE West River Comedy Club

tickettailor.com/events

September 10

THE ROCK ORCHESTRA The Monument

themonument.live/events

MONUMENTAL MEMORIES: ESTABLISHING BLACK HILLS TOWNS The Journey Museum

journeymuseum.org

THE GREAT DOWNTOWN PUMPKIN FESTIVAL Main Street Square

September 26–27

BLACK HILLS CARD SHOW The Monument

blackhillscardshow.com

September 12

KOUNTRY JUNKIN’ VINTAGE AND HANDMADE The Monument Events are curated with the most accurate information available at the time of print. Please check the event website for full details or changes.

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER Mark Houston IT/ENGINEERING Chris Jaques

333 West Boulevard Ste. 200 Rapid City, SD 57709 605.343.6161 rapidcitybusinessjournal.com

PRODUCTION Oakley Tye PROMOTIONS Mitchell Stafford WEBSITE DESIGN Chris Hornick DATA MANAGEMENT Josh Partridge OPERATIONS Toni Kinney

Another HomeSlice Audio Production

ELEVATE | SEPTEMBER 2026 | 3

Rapid City Business Journal is a weekly show and a business news website produced by Elevate Rapid City and The HomeSlice Group. We strive to produce daily and weekly business news supporting Rapid City, The Black Hills, and South Dakota.

THE CAST Mark Houston Amy Rose Mitchell Stafford Oakley Tye Brandon Jones Gary Matthews Francie Ganje

BRAVO

ARCHIE

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DA N A N D K AT H I E B R U S S E AU H AV E T U R N E D R E S C U E D O G S I N TO A M BA S S A D O R S O F C O M F O R T

S T O R Y BY W A D E E L L E T T \\ P H OT O S BY B A I L E Y S A D O W S K Y

ELEVATE | SEPTEMBER 2026 | 5

veryone knows flying can get stressful. There are long lines, hurried goodbyes, and delayed flights. But whether they’re arriving or departing, travelers at Rapid City Regional Airport often have their spirits raised by an ambassador with a wagging tail.

For visitors arriving in the Black Hills or heading home, meeting Archie or Bravo is an unexpected highlight of the journey. The certified therapy dogs quietly bring a little bit of joy and comfort to the terminal with handlers Dan and Kathie Brusseau, offering a calm moment before takeoff or a warm welcome after landing.

They just might be the friendliest welcoming committee around, and that’s exactly what the Brusseaus hope for. "We just love it," Kathie said. "We get to meet people, and a lot of times change their focus. We want to help them have a better day."

The couple and their certified therapy dogs volunteer at Rapid City Regional Airport, the VA Community Living Center, Monument Health, a local nursing home and Ellsworth Air Force Base. Along the way, they helped establish Monument Health's therapy dog program, which has grown into a team of eight certified therapy dogs serving patients, families, visitors and staff. It all began with a lifetime of volunteering, a love of Golden Retrievers and one cheerful rescue dog named Dillon.

A H I STO R Y O F G I V I N G

Service to others has always been a part of Dan and Kathie’s lives, even before they met while attending the University of South Dakota in Vermillion. Both volunteered in their community, and giving back became a constant throughout their marriage.

6 | ELEVATERAPIDCITY.COM

Their love of dogs comes from a moment you might not expect. During the Vietnam War, Dan enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. After completing security police training, he watched a canine demonstration that changed the course of his military career. "I said, 'That's what I want to do,'" Dan recalled.

He eventually became a military dog handler, serving with his German Shepherd partner, Gray, in Vietnam, Thailand and Okinawa. The experience left a lasting impression, not only because of the bond between handler and dog, but because of what dogs could accomplish even during stress and under pressure.

After returning to the United States, Dan and Kathie settled in Rapid City in 1973. They bought a rural property, raised a family, and adopted their first Golden Retriever. For 53 years, they've shared their home with the breed. Their last five have all been rescue dogs. "We always encourage adopting rescues," Dan said. "You're giving a home to animals that need that love."

THE RESCUE TURNED CERTIFIED THERAPY DOG The Brusseaus have become known for their dogs and the work they do together, but therapy dogs weren’t part of a grand retirement plan. Instead, they started thinking about the possibility during a dog training class. While they were training Dillon, they learned about the Alliance of Therapy Dogs. Curious, Dan and Kathie looked into the certification process, and discovered that becoming a certified therapy dog involved far more than learning to sit or stay.

Dogs first complete progressive obedience training before earning the American Kennel Club's Canine Good Citizen certification, where they must remain calm around crowds, loud

noises, medical equipment, wheelchairs, walkers and other dogs. Only then can they complete the Alliance of Therapy Dogs evaluation, which tests both the dog and handler in real-world settings.

"There are people with walkers walking around, and they have cans full of rocks that they shake," Kathie explained about the evaluation. "They have a room full of people that are walking back and forth, and you have to navigate in between. The dog can't be trying to get to the people." "Not every dog can be a therapy dog," Dan added. "They don't have the personality or the temperament."

Dillon did have what it takes to become a therapy dog, and in June 2020, he became certified through Alliance of Therapy Dogs. Soon after, Kathie and Dan became Red Cross Volunteers. This opened the door for them to begin their therapy dog journey in March 2021, volunteering alongside Dillon at the VA hospital in Sturgis, bringing comfort and companionship to the veterans there. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic shut down volunteer visits to the VA. It was disappointing to the Brusseaus, but as often happens, when that door closed, another opened. Bringing comfort to the airport

The idea of bringing Dillon to the airport came from the Brusseaus' oldest son, Todd, an airline pilot based in Denver. “He had seen therapy dogs working there and wondered why Rapid City couldn't have one too,” Kathie said.

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■

After conversations with airport staff and administrators, the Brusseaus were invited to demonstrate what Dillon could do. The immediate response was overwhelmingly positive, and in August 2021, Dillon became the first certified therapy dog to regularly serve at a South Dakota airport.

City wasn't a mountain view or a famous landmark, it was a friendly therapy dog waiting near the terminal.

"So many people will come over and say, 'I need this,'" Kathie says. "'I have so much stress today... you made my day.'"

Dillon passed away from cancer in May 2024. Losing him was heartbreaking for the Brusseaus and everyone who knew him.

Travelers quickly embraced him.

Dan laughs when he remembers how naturally Dillon connected with people. "He was just like a magnet,” he said with a smile. “People were just drawn to him.”

Some travelers just wanted to give him a little pet before boarding. Others shared deeply personal moments. One woman, preparing to fly to say goodbye to her dying daughter, spent several quiet minutes with Dillon before boarding. Another traveler returned more than an hour after first meeting him. "She said all her pain went away," Dan remembered. "Her back pain and everything."

10 | ELEVATERAPIDCITY.COM

Still, others simply never forgot the welcome they received. For many visitors, their first impression of Rapid

"How many people get off an airplane and expect a Golden Retriever to meet them?" Kathie said.

WA L K I N G F O R WA R D, O N E PAW AT A T I M E

But his work didn't end.

Archie and Bravo, both rescue Golden Retrievers, earned their own Alliance of Therapy Dogs certifications and stepped into the role Dillon helped create. Some people doubted that Bravo could become a therapy dog because of a difficult early life. But he has become a remarkable example of what care and patience can accomplish. Dan, Kathie, Dillon, Archie, and Bravo have had a positive effect on thousands of people. They’ve received awards and recognitions from the airport, the Red Cross, and the City of Rapid City. “We’ve felt honored and appreciate the recognition,” Kathie said. “But that’s not why we do it.” “The real reward comes every time we go out and help people,” Dan added.

"WE GET TO MEET PEOPLE, AND A LOT OF TIMES CHANGE THEIR FOCUS. WE WANT TO HELP THEM HAVE A BETTER DAY." - KATHIE BRUSSEAU -

KINDNESS UNLEASHED

In retirement, Dan and Kathie have found a way to continue serving their community alongside the rescue dogs they love. Every flight, every hospital visit, every veteran, every child, and every anxious traveler is another opportunity to remind someone they aren't alone. Sometimes all it takes is a gentle nudge, a wagging tail and a certified therapy dog carrying forward the legacy of the one who started it all.

So next time you’re traveling through Rapid City Regional Airport, keep your eyes peeled for the friendliest, furriest welcoming committee Rapid City has to offer. You’ll be glad you did. *

MATCH MAD E SERVICE FOR

OFFICER EKARAS JACKSON & K9 PARTNER HOONI WORK TOGETHER TO PROTECT RAPID CITY S T O R Y BY M I C H E L L E PA W E L S K I \\ P H OT O S BY B A I L E Y S A D O W S K Y

HOONI

he bag did not seem suspicious - at least not to the officers on scene. It smelled of soap.

It looked like soap.

But Hoonigan “Hooni,” the six-year-old Dutch Shepherd K9 partner of Rapid City Police Officer Ekaras Jackson, indicated something different. Ekaras trusted his partner’s instinct, even when the evidence in front of him didn't add up. “He indicated, and he meant it,” Ekaras said. Laboratory testing later confirmed the soap was infused with methamphetamine.

14 | ELEVATERAPIDCITY.COM

“That was a big ‘trust your dog’ moment,” Ekaras said. “They know what they are doing.”

That trust didn’t happen overnight. It has been more than two years in the making. Ekaras and Hooni have worked side by side as members of the department’s three-dog K9 unit.

Hooni rides with Ekaras every shift, trains with him every week, and lives with him at home. The relationship goes far beyond handler and dog; it’s a partnership built through countless hours of training, patience and mutual respect.

“There is a period where you are adjusting to each other,” Ekaras said. “You’re establishing that relationship of ‘I’m your handler’, but you’re also building trust. They might not be accepting at first, so you have to take some time to establish that relationship and show you care – let them know you are a team working together. Show them that if ‘you help me out. I’m going to help you out.’ It takes a while, but when you finally break through, and you see the connection made – it’s awesome.” Ekaras has always wanted a career in law enforcement. He grew up in Riverside, California, where he was surrounded by family members serving their communities. His biological mom was a cop in San Diego, and his father spent nearly three decades as a deputy in Los Angeles County. Ekaras remembers

“

THAT WAS A BIG ‘TRUST YOUR DOG’ MOMENT. THEY KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING." - EKARAS JACKSON

his dad bringing him to the station and thinking what he did was “the coolest thing ever,” he said. “Law enforcement was something I wanted to do since I was little.”

18 | ELEVATERAPIDCITY.COM

Too young to jump right into patrolling city streets after high school, Ekaras joined the U.S. Air Force. He spent two years in Okinawa, Japan, before completing the remainder of his enlistment at Ellsworth Air Force Base. An avid outdoorsman, Ekaras chose to stay in the Black Hills after leaving the military, finding himself surprisingly drawn to the area’s quieter way of life. “I really like it here. I like to hunt, fish and be outdoors,” he said.

“I didn’t realize it until I moved here, but I like the slower pace. It’s not crowded and the traffic is not as bad. I just fell in love with the area.” That appreciation for the community extends beyond his personal life. Ekaras has spent the past seven years serving and protecting residents as an officer with the Rapid City Police Department.

When an opening in the K9 unit came up two years ago, he decided to apply. “It is such a specialized unit with a specific purpose – that kind of drew me in. It’s a unique side of policing.” Like most police K-9s in the United States, Hooni began his journey in Europe, where specialized working

dogs have been bred for centuries. After arriving in the United States, he was brought to his new home with the Rapid City Police Department. Hooni had a previous handler in the department before being matched with Ekaras. The two underwent a rigorous 12-week training program before hitting the streets. Training continues each week, often working with the department’s other two K9 teams.

Hooni is trained in two disciplines: narcotics detection and patrol work, which includes tracking, searching buildings and apprehending violent suspects. Although patrol deployments are less common, Ekaras said the mere presence of a police dog can bring compliance from offenders. Most of Hooni's work involves

drug investigation. He is trained to detect all varieties of drugs, from methamphetamines and cocaine to psilocybin mushrooms and fentanyl.

Police dogs can detect odors humans can’t even imagine. Ekaras compared it to walking into a pizza place: people will smell pizza, while a trained police dog can distinguish all the individual scents – yeast, salt, tomatoes, peppers. “It blew my mind when I was going through training and learned how strong their noses are.” K9 dogs can even sniff out the difference between earth that has been disturbed and areas that have not – even on asphalt or pavement – an important skill in tracking down a suspect, Ekaras said.

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ELEVATE | SEPTEMBER 2026 | 19

Over their two years together, Ekaras learned that Hooni does not like being micromanaged. “I discovered how he likes to best work, and that is he likes his independence, giving him more freedom to work and figure out problems on his own.”

specially outfitted kennel in the back of the patrol vehicle, eager for the next call. If a situation doesn’t meet the threshold for using the K9, Ekaras still responds as a patrol officer while Hooni waits, sometimes patiently, for his turn to go to work.

Just like with any law enforcement partner, Ekaras does not want Hooni harmed. “You get close to these dogs,' he said. 'You have to put him in these situations. He is a tool, and he’s meant to protect officers and the public, but at the same time, he’s my partner, and I don’t want to see him get hurt."

After solving the case with the meth-infused soap, Hooni received a much-deserved reward at home.

That bond, however, makes one part of the job especially difficult.

Even when Hooni isn’t deployed, he’s with Ekaras every shift, riding in the

Despite his serious responsibilities, Hooni has plenty of personality. He loves playing with his favorite toys, old fire hoses from the Rapid City Fire Department. After solving particularly challenging cases, he sometimes earns an extra-special paycheck.

“Hooni got a nice steak dinner,” Ekaras said. *

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22 | ELEVATERAPIDCITY.COM

AT T L E P HO

UDDY

ENIX

HOW SOUTH DAKOTA SERVICE DOGS HELPED VETERAN JOSH CRUMP FIND A PARTNER, PROTECTOR, AND LIFELINE IN PHOENIX.

S T O R Y BY Z A D A J O N E S P H OT O S BY B A I L E Y S A D O W S K Y

osh Crump’s journey to Phoenix started thousands of miles away, in the dust of military convoys and the long silences that followed loss.

As an Air Force supply specialist, Josh went where he was needed, making sure missions had the resources to keep moving. That work took him to Afghanistan, where he saw the realities of war up close and experienced a loss that never really left him. "It was an insider he was training who killed him," Josh says quietly.

Coming back to Rapid City brought a different kind of battle. Everything looked normal on the outside, but inside, Josh felt like he had been left somewhere else. He dealt with survivor’s guilt, isolation and memories he didn’t know how to talk about.

24 | ELEVATERAPIDCITY.COM

“My wife doesn’t know half of what I’ve been through,” he says. “I don’t want my wife to even think about some of the stuff that I’ve had to go through.” The same pride that helped him push through deployments also made it harder to admit he was struggling. Asking for help did not come naturally. Then a friend gave him a simple piece of advice. “You probably need to apply and see how you’ll do.”

That small push led Josh to South Dakota Service Dogs, where he was accepted into the program and began looking through photos of dogs waiting to be matched with veterans. When Josh met Phoenix for the first time, something clicked immediately. “From day one, he never left my hip,” Josh says. “I sat down on the grass, and he came over and laid on my lap. He’s like, ‘I’m yours, you’re mine,’ and it’s been that way the whole time.”

Although Josh and Phoenix have been together for less than two years, watching them interact, it's hard to believe they haven't spent a lifetime side by side. But what really changed Josh's life was not just meeting Phoenix. It was the bond they built together, the kind of connection that turned Phoenix into what Josh now calls his battle buddy.

In the military, a battle buddy is the person who watches your back; the one who notices when something is off before you even say a word. Phoenix became exactly that for Josh. Their partnership was not instant perfection. For 18 months, they trained together, learning each other’s rhythms, reactions and limits.

“I’m training him; he’s training me because I’m keying on the way he reacts to certain things that I say,” Josh explains.

Over time, that training became trust.

Service dogs are not just companions. They are working partners who must stay sharp, focused and ready to respond when their handler needs them most. When Phoenix wears his vest, everything changes. Josh says it is like a switch flips.

“When that vest is on, he knows that he’s working and he has a certain mission,” Josh says. “But when that vest is off, he knows he can play and he can be a pet.”

Phoenix watches Josh in ways most people would never notice. He reads body language, senses shifts in anxiety and steps in before things spiral. He responds to certain sounds and situations that can trigger PTSD flashbacks, helping redirect Josh's attention back to the present. If Josh falls, Phoenix is trained to protect his

head and help him back up. He also helps with mobility, providing stability when Josh's bad hips make walking difficult. “When I get anxious, he knows, and he will get up and he will get in my face to distract me,” Josh says. Phoenix's job continues to grow alongside Josh's needs. He is currently being trained to detect changes in Josh's scent that could signal shifts in his blood sugar, adding diabetes alert work to the tasks he already performs. As Josh's physical and mental health needs change, Phoenix's training evolves with them. That training does not happen overnight. As intelligent as Phoenix is, every skill requires countless hours of repetition and reinforcement with the handlers at South Dakota Service Dogs. Training is ongoing, ensuring Phoenix stays ready to respond whenever Josh needs him.

That is where the meaning behind “battle buddy” becomes real for Josh.

26 | ELEVATERAPIDCITY.COM

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Phoenix is not just reacting. He is protecting.

“He’s my battle buddy. He protects me. I protect him,” Josh says.

That bond has pulled Josh back into life in ways he did not expect. He started going out again. He went to a Red Sox game with his family and Phoenix right beside him. He began volunteering and fundraising for South Dakota Service Dogs, wanting to give back to the program that changed his life.

“South Dakota Service Dogs was a godsend for me. That was a lifeline,” Josh says.

The program provides service dogs at no cost to veterans, even though training can cost around $20,000. In return, veterans like Josh stay involved, showing up at events, sharing their stories and helping others understand that asking for help is not weakness. “We’re military guys. We have that pride factor. Drop the pride. Go out

and get the help,” he says. Life with Phoenix is not about everthing being fixed. It is about having someone there when things feel unbearable.

Between the difficult moments are the ordinary ones. Phoenix’s favorite morning treat is a hard-boiled egg. He gets excited for grooming appointments. At home, he shares space with Remington, the family’s older dog, who Josh calls “the old man.”

Even through heartbreak, including saying goodbye to another family dog, Luna, Phoenix has remained steady. “If it wasn’t for that program, if it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t be here today,” Josh says.

For Josh, Phoenix is more than a service dog. He is a reminder that even after the hardest chapters, life can keep moving forward. And thanks to the partnership they have built together, Josh does not have to do it alone. *

DROGON

built on trust JEREMY GIBBONS AND DROGON STAND READY WITH SOUTH DAKOTA’S STATEWIDE K9 LIVE SEARCH & RESCUE TEAM.

STORY BY SHILOH FRANCIS \\ PHOTOS BY BAILEY SADOWSKY & SUBMITTED

eremy Gibbons doesn’t speak dog. And Drogon doesn’t speak English. But over the course of five years the two have developed a bond that doesn’t need words.

It’s built on trust and loyalty; together, they are ready to answer the call should it ever come. Drogon, a Belgian Malinois, came to Rapid City from Nevada. He is certified as a live-find rescue K9 for the Rapid City Fire Department and South Dakota Taskforce 1. This means he is trained to locate missing or trapped people following a disaster such as a building collapse or tornado. “If it’s alive, he’ll alert,” explained handler Jeremy.

BUILT ON TRUST

30 | ELEVATERAPIDCITY.COM

Getting to this point was not easy. It’s taken nearly five years of constant repetitions, intentional training, and overall time together. In fact, the two have been inseparable since Drogon’s arrival in 2021.

He goes home with Jeremy, joins family vacations, and reports to the fire station each day. He’s a one-person dog, and that person is Jeremy. This is further evidenced as warnings of “bringing him through” are met with fellow firemen quickly tucking themselves into a room as the pair walk the hallways.

The result is a duo who trust each other completely. Jeremy trusts Drogon to enter a search, do his job and return. Drogon, in turn, knows Gibbons won’t ask more of him than the job requires. “It’s my job to put him in a position to make him successful,” he said. “I’m his advocate.”

That means recognizing when Drogon needs to pull back, even when the dog would rather keep working. “He only has two speeds: full blast or off,” Gibbons said with a laugh.

Jeremy would describe much of the training and work as a “fancy game of hide-and-seek.”

“He shows a high toy possession,” Jeremy said. As such, toys are hidden in obstacles or training buildings. The reward for Drogon is finding it. A little food doesn’t hurt, either.

As part of the statewide task force, Gibbons and Drogon can be called to an emergency at any hour. For Drogon, however, an official deployment should feel no different than training. Gibbons makes sure of it. “We stick to our routine,” he said. “I pack the same bags. We drive the same vehicle. I keep everything as neutral as possible.”

BARK & ANSWER

HI, DROGON! WHAT SHOULD EVERYONE KNOW ABOUT YOU?

Photos submitted.

A: Well, I’m a Belgian Malinois. I came to Rapid City in 2021 as a puppy to begin my training as a live find search and rescue K9 for the state of SD. I search for live subjects after a disaster (AKA tornado, building collapse, etc.). My alert when I find someone is I bark. I am a badged member of the Rapid City Fire Department and I am on SD-TF1 (South Dakota Task Force 1 – the state rescue team). I have one handler. I come to the fire station with him and I get to go home with him. Q: Do you relate to your dragon namesake? What the most non dragon thing about you? A: Yes, as a puppy I was named after the dragon from Game of Thrones. If you see the pictures there is a resemblance. Q: What’s your superpower? A: I’m a Belgian Malinois! Q: If you could adopt a pet, who would you adopt? A: I’ve already adopted one, my handler. That’s enough. Q: What’s your favorite part of going to work? A: I love being busy. Work, training, exercise, I’m ready for anything. Q: What do you love to do when you’re off duty? A: I love to play and exercise, play and exercise and then I like to do more playing and exercising. Q: What makes you such a good boy? A: What is a “good boy”? I don’t understand what this is.

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A STATEWIDE TEAM

Before there was Drogon, “Dog 2”, there was “Dog 1”: Cisco.

Fifteen years ago, Jeremy’s captain was part of an effort to build a statewide rescue team. Most fire departments have basic rescue training and resources. But there are low-probability, high-risk events like building collapses, grain bin entrapment, or natural disasters that require more intensive training. South Dakota Taskforce 1 consists of members from Aberdeen, Rapid City, Sioux Falls, and Watertown departments. They stand ready to assist local responders when the emergency calls for these advanced capabilities. One component of becoming a certified state team was a trained K9.

The captain tasked Jeremy with researching what it would take for the state to add a dog to the team. When it came time to act, Jeremy was the obvious choice to take on the role of handler. Working with a Master Dog Trainer, Jeremy was matched with Cisco, a dog already fully trained.

“As a first-time handler she found me an ‘easier’ dog.” Even with a fully trained dog, it took six months to a year for Gibbons and Cisco to build the relationship necessary to work as a team. Cisco served the department for nearly seven years before health issues forced him to retire. In that time, Cisco and Jeremy assisted with a few especially noteworthy calls.

One of which was the Copper Lounge building collapse in downtown Sioux Falls. Cisco searched for hours and helped to find one of the two dogs that were rescued from the debris. The team also assisted during the early days of the search for Serenity Dennard in the Black Hills.

FROM DOG 1 TO DOG 2

Jeremy’s experience with Drogon has been different. Rather than receiving a fully trained dog, he has guided Drogon’s development from the beginning.

“It is endless repetitions,” he said. The work continues. Drogon is certified for disaster searches and could eventually expand his skills to air-scent searches, which cover larger wilderness areas. Despite his focus on the job, Drogon still gets plenty of opportunities to simply be a dog.

“He is so goofy!” Jeremy laughed. He has his favorite toys and can often be found with one under Jeremy’s bed. But he also loves his work.

Whether it’s chasing down a ball for the 100th time, or making his way across the pallet obstacle course, Drogon won’t quit until Jeremy makes him.

If you ask Jeremy what he’s most proud of, the answer isn’t a certification or a completed exercise. It’s the growth he has witnessed along the way. “Seeing him from the puppy he was when he arrived to where he is now, I’m proud of what we’ve done,” Jeremy smiles. No one wants to be in a situation that would send Drogon and Jeremy into action. But if the call comes, five years of training, trust and teamwork will go with them. They’ll be ready. *

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