Joey may love chasing a ball at the park, but the 2-year-old Labrador retriever with the Los Angeles County Fire Department also enjoys helping people in dire emergencies.
This heroic pup has already helped locate three people alive in earthquake rubble in Venezuela, work that has earned him recognition as a Hero Dog Awards semifinalist, according to KABC.
Here's what to know
After a deadly earthquake in Venezuela, Joey was credited with locating three survivors beneath the rubble. The dog is part of the Los Angeles County Fire Department's USA-2 urban search-and-rescue task force, according to KABC.
Fire Capt. Louis Gudiel said Joey shifts easily between emergency work and family life.
"When he's not working, he likes to play with his ball. We usually play about 20 minutes every day at the park. He loves to snuggle with the family," Gudiel said.
"We trained for over five months to get him certified, and Joey and I were certified in September of 2025, and we were mission-ready to deploy anywhere in the world," Gudiel said.
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That call came in June, when Joey and Gudiel were deployed to Venezuela after the earthquake. They arrived three days after the disaster, and Joey found three people alive under the rubble.
Joey doesn't only assist with disaster scenes. Back in Los Angeles County, he also comforts first responders at the fire station.
"I've never been at a station with a dog before, so having Joey here is really cool. He's here for us, he helps us, and it's cool just saying you have an international hero working at your station," Los Angeles County firefighter Matthew Vela said.
What's being done?
The Los Angeles County Fire Department continues to use specially trained K-9 teams through its USA-2 task force.
Joey and Gudiel's deployment to Venezuela shows how those teams can help beyond their home community when major disasters strike.
For readers inspired by Joey's example, support for local emergency services and community response efforts can also begin close to home. The TCD Guide's page on taking local action offers ideas for getting involved in your own area.
"It feels good to put in all that work, all that training, and be able to deploy and make a difference," Gudiel said. "So when we get those live alerts, it's not only good as a K-9 team, but it's also for our department and our nation."
Where can I learn more?
Joey is one of many dogs doing high-stakes rescue work when disaster strikes. Other stories look at search-and-rescue and detection dogs responding to wildfires, avalanches, hurricanes, and other emergencies.
• In Los Angeles, K-9 teams took on one of the hardest jobs after the wildfires.
• Across California, rescued shelter dogs are now being trained to save people from wildfires.
• At Colorado ski resorts, dogs trained to save lives help find people after avalanches.
• After Hurricane Helene, a specially trained dog helped bring closure to grieving families.
• In Australia, detection dog Gandalf was named canine hero of the year for crime-fighting work.
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