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Disaster Dog Podcast is the first show dedicated entirely to the world of Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) canines. Hosted by Rami Elshareif and Mike Vitale—both experienced USAR handlers—the podcast creates a space within the working dog community focused on the unique challenges and triumphs of disaster response. Each episode dives into topics such as training methods, canine selection, deployment experiences, and the evolving landscape of disaster work in the United States and beyond. Our mission is to highlight the voices of handlers and bring their stories directly to the community, while offering insights, lessons learned, and inspiration for anyone passionate about USAR dogs.
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- Aug 12, 20261h 28m
Disaster Dog Podcast Episode 10: Summer time....and the livin's easy
Rami and Mike are back for Episode 10 of the Disaster Dog Podcast with plenty to catch up on after a busy summer. They kick things off with a look back at their international summer vacations, sharing some stories from their travels and what they’ve been up to away from the disaster dog world. Then it’s back to work. The guys recap a training trip to New York, talking about the experience, training opportunities, and the value of getting outside your home training environment and working alongside other teams and handlers. The conversation shifts to the Venezuela earthquake response, where Rami and Mike discuss the response, the role of search resources, and some of the operational considerations that come with deploying canine teams following a major international disaster. There are also some significant updates closer to home. Rami and Mike talk about their new responsibilities within State Urban Search and Rescue (SUSAR) subgroups, what those roles mean, and the opportunity to help shape the future of the state US&R canine and search programs. Finally, they get into some of the work happening behind the scenes at home, including plans for building a new rubble pile, the challenges of creating quality training opportunities, and the logistics involved with hosting canine testing—from evaluators and travel to site preparation, staffing, and everything required to put together a successful test. In This Episode Catching up after a busy summer Rami and Mike’s international vacations Training and networking in New York The Venezuela earthquake response Search and canine considerations during international disasters New SUSAR subgroup responsibilities Helping develop the future of SUSAR search and canine programs Building a new rubble pile Creating better opportunities for realistic disaster dog training What actually goes into hosting a canine test Evaluators, logistics, staffing, travel, and site preparation What’s coming next for the Disaster Dog Podcast Whether you’re a US&R canine handler, search team member, firefighter, trainer, or just interested in how disaster dog programs operate behind the scenes, Episode 10 covers everything from summer travel to the work involved in building stronger search programs. Thanks for listening to the Disaster Dog Podcast. Follow along for more conversations about disaster dogs, US&R, training, deployments, testing, and the people behind the dogs.
- May 30, 20261h 36m
Disaster Dog Episode 8 with Geoff Gardiner of IL-TF1
In this special tribute episode of the Disaster Dog Podcast, we sit down to bid farewell to one of the original K9 handlers of Illinois Task Force 1, Geoff Gardiner. Over the past 24 years, Geoff has built an incredible career in the working dog community. Beginning as a police K9 handler with a Rottweiler, he later transitioned into urban search and rescue, ultimately working three generations of Belgian Malinois with Illinois Task Force 1. Throughout the conversation, Geoff reflects on the evolution of disaster search dogs, the changes he's witnessed in training and deployment, and the lessons learned from decades spent working alongside some exceptional canine partners. Geoff shares stories from the early days of his career, highlights memorable moments from deployments and training, and discusses how the role of the handler has changed over the years. Most importantly, he offers valuable advice and perspective for the next generation of K9 handlers looking to build successful and meaningful careers in search and rescue. Whether you're a seasoned handler, new to the disaster dog community, or simply interested in the bond between handler and canine, this episode captures an important piece of Illinois Task Force 1 history and honors the legacy of a handler who helped pave the way for those who follow. Thank you, Geoff, for your service, mentorship, and dedication to the K9 community.
- May 3, 20261h 48m
Disaster Dog Podcast Episode 8 with Dr. Michael Davis DVM: The Hijack Episode
We're naming this the Hijack Episode. It Probably won't be the last since we think it's a cool concept. Dr. Jennifer Brown interviews Dr. Michael Davis; a licensed veterinarian that is board-certified in both veterinary internal medicine and veterinary sports medicine and rehabilitation. For nearly 3 decades, he has been employed at Oklahoma State University College of Veterinary Medicine as an exercise physiologist with a research career focused on exercise pathophysiology and enhancing performance of working animals. His research has spanned racing sled dogs, off-leash detection dogs, and multipurpose canines. We mention it in the introduction, the quality isn't the best, but the information is a must for any working dog handler regardless of discipline. Shout out to Jen Brown for purchasing her own recording equipment and getting this information out to the masses. Enjoy!
- Apr 1, 20261h 55m
Disaster Dog Podcast Episode 7 with Tim Houweling of CA-TF3
Mike and Rami sit down in the studio with Tim Houweling of California Task Force 3 for an in-depth conversation about his unique journey from a career in finance to the fire service—and how that path ultimately led him into the world of working dogs. Tim shares how he got his start, the lessons he’s learned along the way, and the passion that drives his work today. The conversation dives into the nonprofit organizations Tim developed, including HD Search Dogs and The Siren Project (www.thesirenproject.org), highlighting their missions and impact. They also take a hard look at gaps in current training approaches, what it truly means to be operationally ready, and the critical need to better simulate real-world stressors faced during deployments. This episode is a candid and insightful discussion about growth, preparedness, and pushing the standard forward in the working dog and rescue community.
- Mar 1, 20261h 13m
Disaster Dog Podcast Episode 6: FSA's...Black, White, or Gray?
Rami and Mike sit down to tackle one of the more talked-about topics in the disaster response canine world — FSAs and testing in USAR. In this episode, they break down the true spirit and intent behind the tests, how different teams interpret and implement them in the field, and what a “new school” mindset might look like moving forward. This conversation dives into philosophy, standards, training culture, and the evolving expectations of disaster search dogs. Some of the takes may ruffle feathers — and that’s intentional. The goal isn’t agreement; it’s dialogue. If this episode sparks debate, questions long-held assumptions, or pushes the community to think differently, then it’s doing exactly what it was meant to do: start meaningful conversation within the world of USAR canines.
- Jan 31, 20261h 44m
Intro episode part 2. Episode 5 with Rami Elshareif of IL-TF1/IN-TF1.
Mike and Rami head back into the studio to wrap up their origin stories. In this episode, Rami opens up about his unconventional path—from realizing college wasn’t the right fit to the specific "why" behind his first working K9. We again dive into why travel is the ultimate training tool, discussing how diverse exposure builds a more resilient dog and a sharper handler. Along the way, the guys find common ground in shared trauma and their time in the fire service. Finally, Rami shares his vision for the future of the Disaster Dog Podcast and the community we’re building together.
- Jan 24, 20261h 22m
Intro episodes... Finally. Disaster Dog Podcast Episode 4 with Michael Vitale of IL-TF1
In this long-awaited intro episode, Rami and Mike sit down to share part 1 of the origin story behind the mission. Mike opens up about his careers, some team history, and the unexpected path that led him into the world of working dogs. It wasn't always a smooth ride—Mike shares the "humble" beginnings of owning a dog that literally ate the trim off his walls, and the journey of lessons learned that eventually led him to become the Canine Coordinator for IL-TF1.
- Dec 15, 20251h 10m
Disaster Dog Podcast Episode 3 with Macy Hunsicker of VA-TF1
We sit down with Macy Hunsicker of Virginia Task Force 1 after she braved nearly 10 inches of snow to make the drive from Virginia to Chicago. Macy walks us through her path into the K9 world, from her early days showing dogs in 4-H to deploying internationally on recent missions. We dive into the importance of environmental exposure, the realities of “washing” dogs from K9 programs and making those tough decisions, and her newest chapter—developing both Live Find and HRD USAR dogs. Macy also shares her perspective on working for the federal government and what life looks like in her newly found “retirement” role. We’re grateful she took the time to join us, and we know our listeners will enjoy this conversation as much as we did.
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About Disaster Dog Podcast
Disaster Dog Podcast is the first show dedicated entirely to the world of Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) canines. Hosted by Rami Elshareif and Mike Vitale—both experienced USAR handlers—the podcast creates a space within the working dog community focused on the unique challenges and triumphs of disaster response. Each episode dives into topics such as training methods, canine selection, deployment experiences, and the evolving landscape of disaster work in the United States and beyond. Our mission is to highlight the voices of handlers and bring their stories directly to the community, while offering insights, lessons learned, and inspiration for anyone passionate about USAR dogs.
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Disaster Dog Podcast covers topics including Kids & Family, Animals, Family, Pets & Animals. Our AI identifies the specific themes in each episode and highlights what matters most to you.
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