Bud Souza and Kane
California Task Force 4

Bud Souza is a FEMA/OES Type 1 certified Canine Specialist and Rescue Specialist with the California Task Force 4 Urban Search and Rescue Team. He worked as a fire fighter and paramedic with several Bay Area fire Departments and retired from the Oakland Fire Department in July 2005. He is also an instructor in First Aid/CPR, and emergency response, in addition to having been a part time instructor at The Assistance Dog Institute in Santa Rosa.

Kane is a 2 years and 10 month old Golden Retriever, who began his training at the age of 6 1/2 weeks old. He received his FEMA Type 2 certification at 19 months and his Advanced Type 1 certification at 25 months of age. The Katrina Deployment was his first deployment as a USAR K-9.

Bud and Kane train 1 to 3 times each week, with the training being always a seamless mix of play and work with fun as the top priority.