Original subtitles

♪ MTV

Man: CANINE SEARCH AND RESCUE. CALL OUT IF YOU CAN HEAR ME.

Narrator: AROUND THE WORLD, DOGS ARE COMING TO THE RESCUE...

SEARCHING FOR SURVIVORS WHEN DISASTER STRIKES...

[DOG BARKS] Woman: WAY TO GO, ROCKET!

Narrator: SNIFFING OUT WILDLIFE TRAFFICKERS...

[DOG BARKS]

Narrator: HELPING US IN TIMES OF TROUBLE...

Girl: GOOD BOY.

Narrator: ...ON LAND AND IN THE WATER.

Man: GRANDE CANE!

Woman: GOOD GIRL.

Narrator: DOGS ARE SMART, LOYAL

AND EQUIPPED TO DO THINGS WE SIMPLY CAN'T.

THEIR POWERFUL SENSE OF SMELL...

THEIR STRENGTH AND STAMINA...

AND THEIR UNLIMITED DESIRE TO PLAY...

Woman: GOOD BOY!

Narrator: ...HAS ENABLED US TO HARNESS THEIR NATURAL ABILITIES,

RESULTING IN AN IMPRESSIVE ARRAY OF DOGS...

[GROWLING]

WITH EXTRAORDINARY JOBS.

♪

♪

PLEASANT LAKE, NEW HAMPSHIRE, USA.

[DOG BARKS]

Bella: COME ON, G!

- Narrator: 13- - YEAR-OLD BELLA BURTON IS COOLING OFF,

AS MANY KIDS HER AGE MIGHT LIKE TO DO.

BUT THIS SIMPLE CHILDHOOD PLEASURE

WAS AN IMPOSSIBLE DREAM FOR BELLA JUST THREE YEARS AGO.

SHE COULD HARDLY WALK, LET ALONE SWIM.

THE LIFE-CHANGING TRANSFORMATION

IS ALL DOWN TO THIS EXTRAORDINARY DOG.

FOUR-YEAR-OLD GREAT DANE GEORGE.

Bella: HE'’S MY BEST FRIEND. WE'RE INSEPARABLE.

Narrator: BELLA WAS BORN WITH MORQUIO SYNDROME,

A RARE AND PROGRESSIVE MUSCLE-WASTING CONDITION

WHICH SEVERELY LIMITS HER MOBILITY.

AT 10 YEARS OLD SHE WAS ALREADY FINDING IT DIFFICULT TO WALK.

Rachel: THE PAIN IN HER LEGS AND HER HIPS

WAS GETTING PRETTY SEVERE.

SO WE FIGURED THAT BY THE TIME SHE WAS 12 OR 13,

SHE WOULDN'T REALLY BE WALKING MUCH AT ALL

AND SHE WOULD BE CONFINED TO A WHEELCHAIR.

Narrator: BUT SINCE MEETING GEORGE THREE YEARS AGO,

BELLA'’S LIFE HAS CHANGED DRAMATICALLY.

[DOGS BARKING]

THE PAIR WERE MATCHED AT THE SERVICE DOG PROJECT

IN IPSWICH, MASSACHUSETTS.

Trainer: WAIT.

Narrator: THE CENTER SPECIALIZES

IN BREEDING AND TEACHING GREAT DANES

TO HELP PEOPLE LIVING WITH DISABILITIES.

Megan: JAEGER, COME ON, JAGGY!

HI! JAGGER JEGS!

COME ON, UP, UP, UP!

GREAT DANES ARE WONDERFUL.

A LOT OF PEOPLE SEE THEIR SIZE AND THEY GET AFRAID OF THEM

AND THEY THINK, "OH, BIG DOG, SCARY,"

BUT THESE GUYS ARE MORE AFRAID OF THEIR SHADOW, SO...

NO, THEY'RE DEFINITELY GENTLE GIANTS.

Narrator: GREAT DANES ARE ONE OF THE TALLEST BREEDS IN THE WORLD,

STANDING UP TO 44 INCHES.

NEXT TO BELLA, THEY SEEMED ENORMOUS.

Bella: I WAS JUST, LIKE, WHOA, THESE ARE REALLY BIG DOGS.

I DIDN'T REALLY, LIKE, KNOW WHAT TO THINK OF THEM

BECAUSE THEY'RE JUST BIG,

BUT THEY ALSO LOOKED REALLY, LIKE, NICE AND, LIKE, GENTLE.

SO, I'’M LIKE, OH, THEY'’RE REALLY SWEET.

STAY.

Narrator: BELLA BEGAN TO WORK AT THE CENTER,

HOPING SHE MIGHT FIND HER PERFECT COMPANION

TO HELP HER WALK AGAIN.

Bella: WHEN I STARTED TO VOLUNTEER UP AT SERVICE DOG,

IT WAS JUST FUN BECAUSE I GOT TO SPEND TIME

WITH ALL MY, LIKE, MY FAVORITE ANIMALS ALL THE TIME.

AND IT DIDN'T SEEM LIKE WORK,

IT JUST KIND OF SEEMED JUST LIKE HANGING OUT WITH ALL MY FRIENDS

AND LIKE THE ANIMALS AND EVERYTHING.

GOOD BOY.

I'’M AN ANIMAL PERSON, SO I KIND OF LIKED ALL OF THE DOGS.

BUT NONE OF THEM REALLY LIKED ME.

STAY.

Megan: IT TOOK US A WHILE TO FIND A DOG THAT TOOK TO BELLA.

SHE CAME HERE AND VOLUNTEERED

AND NONE OF THE DOGS REALLY ENJOYED HER COMPANY,

WHICH WAS REALLY SAD.

Bella: NO, STAY.

IT'’S 'CAUSE OF MY VOICE.

IT'’S LIKE HIGH-PITCHED.

SO, TO THEM IT'’S LIKE REALLY HIGH-PITCHED.

Rachel: WHEN SHE WOULD WALK INTO THEIR KENNEL,

THE DOGS WOULD RUN OUTSIDE AND WANTED NOTHING TO DO WITH HER.

AND THEN EVENTUALLY GEORGE WAS THE ONLY ONE

THAT STAYED IN HIS KENNEL.

Narrator: THE WAY BELLA WALKS AND TALKS

MAY HAVE SEEMED VERY DIFFERENT

FROM HOW THESE DOGS WERE USED TO SEEING PEOPLE.

BUT DOMESTIC DOGS ARE HIGHLY ADAPTABLE,

WHICH ENABLES THEM TO EXPLORE

AND ADJUST TO NEW THINGS VERY QUICKLY.

Bella: AT FIRST HE STARTED TO, LIKE, RUN OFF,

AND THEN, LIKE, SLOWLY, AFTER A WHILE,

HE JUST LIKE KIND OF JUST STAYED

AND THEN I WAS JUST KIND OF, LIKE, BRUSHING HIM OUT,

AND THEN HE WOULDN'’T LET ME LEAVE.

LIKE, HE'D EITHER BLOCK THE DOOR

OR, LIKE, TRY TO SIT ON MY LAP SO I COULDN'’T LEAVE.

Rachel: GEORGE TOOK HIS BIG PAW, LAID IT RIGHT ACROSS HER LEGS,

AND WAS LIKE, NOPE, YOU'’RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE.

AND ONCE THE TRAINER SAW THAT,

THEY WERE LIKE, OH, GEORGE IS HER DOG.

Bella: SO THEN WE STARTED TO TAKE HIM HOME

FOR, LIKE, WEEKENDS AND STUFF,

SO WE COULD JUST LIKE HANG OUT AND PLAY

AND GET USED TO THE FAMILY FOR HIM.

AND THEN AFTER A WHILE, HE JUST KIND OF, LIKE, BECAME MINE.

Rachel: SO, AS A MOM I WAS NERVOUS.

I WAS LIKE, HE'S HUGE!

HOW IS BELLA EVER GONNA CONTROL A DOG THAT SIZE?

BECAUSE AT THE TIME BELLA WAS MAYBE 40 POUNDS, AND HE WAS 130.

THEN I WAS LIKE, WELL, IF IT WAS SOMETHING

THAT WAS GOING TO MAKE BELLA ABLE TO WALK AGAIN,

WE WERE ALL FOR IT.

Narrator: DOGS HAVE BEEN TRAINED TO HELP PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

FOR 90 YEARS,

EVER SINCE THE FIRST GUIDE DOG FOR THE BLIND

STARTED WORK IN 1928.

NOW THERE ARE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF SERVICE DOGS

PROVIDING VITAL SUPPORT TO PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

ALL OVER THE WORLD.

Megan: WE HAVE VETERANS WITH PTSD,

WE HAVE PARKINSON'’S, MS, VETERANS WITH TBIs.

BASICALLY INSTEAD OF A CANE OR A WALKER,

THEY HOLD ON TO THE DOG FOR BALANCE.

BASICALLY WE ARE TRAINING A DOG

TO BE A LIVING, BREATHING CRUTCH FOR THESE PEOPLE.

Narrator: BEFORE GEORGE, BELLA'S LEG MUSCLES WERE WASTING AWAY,

BUT AFTER SIX MONTHS WITH HIM,

HER LEGS WERE STRONG ENOUGH TO HOLD HER WEIGHT.

Bella: I WAS EITHER IN A WHEELCHAIR

OR I WAS ON CRUTCHES,

SO MY LEG MUSCLES GOT REALLY WEAK,

SO IT WAS JUST HARDER TO WALK AFTER THAT.

BUT THEN ONCE I GOT GEORGE,

HE KIND OF, LIKE, FORCED ME TO WALK.

Rachel: GEORGE KNEW RIGHT WHAT BELLA NEEDED

RIGHT WHEN SHE NEEDED IT.

AND IF SHE HAD TO WALK SLOWER, GEORGE WOULD SLOW DOWN

SO THAT THEY COULD WALK TOGETHER SIDE BY SIDE.

AND IF BELLA WAS HAVING A GOOD DAY AT WALKING FASTER,

HE WOULD WALK FASTER.

HE KNEW WHAT SHE NEEDED RIGHT WHEN SHE NEEDED IT.

Megan: HER DOCTORS WERE SHOCKED

AT THE MUSCLE DEFINITION THAT SHE GOT AND HER POSTURE

AND JUST ALL THESE LITTLE THINGS

AND JUST HER OUTLOOK ON LIFE AND HOW SHE CHANGED MENTALLY

BECAUSE NOW SHE HAS A BEST FRIEND

THAT GETS TO GO EVERYWHERE WITH HER.

Bella: THEN HE'’LL JUST GO BACK TO SLEEP.

COME ON, GEORGE.

Narrator: GEORGE AND BELLA HAVE CREATED A STRONG BOND

BASED ON MUTUAL TRUST.

Bella: GEORGIE, COME. LAY DOWN.

Narrator: HE UNDERSTANDS HER NEEDS,

AND SHE RELIES ON HIM FOR SUPPORT.

IT'’S A BEAUTIFUL, MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL RELATIONSHIP.

Bella: SO WHEN HE'S WORKING, HE'S ALWAYS FOCUSED ON HIS JOB,

BUT THEN AS SOON AS YOU TAKE OFF HIS VEST,

HE, LIKE, RUNS AROUND AND HE PLAYS A LOT,

BUT THEN AFTER, LIKE, AN HOUR,

HE'’LL JUST KIND OF LIKE GO AND LAY DOWN AND JUST SLEEP.

EVERYBODY THINKS THAT GREAT DANES

ARE, LIKE, BIG AND ENERGETIC JUST BECAUSE THEY'RE BIG,

BUT HONESTLY, THEY'’RE COUCH POTATOES.

THEY, LIKE, RUN AROUND FOR, LIKE, 10 MINUTES,

AND THEN THEY JUST WANT TO GO BACK TO BED.

Bella: GEORGE, HEY.

Narrator: BELLA HASN'’T USED HER CRUTCHES FOR THREE YEARS.

GEORGE HAS RESCUED HER FROM A LIFE OF IMMOBILITY

AND GIVEN HER MORE CONFIDENCE THAN SHE'’S EVER HAD.

Bella: I'M POSITIVE THAT PEOPLE WON'T BUMP INTO ME

WHEN I HAVE GEORGE,

BECAUSE IF THEY BUMPED INTO ME, I COULD FALL,

AND THEN I WOULD GET HURT, AND THAT'’S NOT FUN.

HE'’S VERY PROTECTIVE.

LIKE, EVEN IF WE'RE PLAYING,

HE'LL STILL, LIKE, ALWAYS WATCH ME

BECAUSE HE DOESN'’T WANT ANYTHING TO HAPPEN.

I JUST KIND OF KNEW THAT, LIKE, I WAS SAFE NO MATTER WHAT.

Narrator: GEORGE GIVES BELLA THE STRENGTH TO DO ACTIVITIES

ONCE CONSIDERED IMPOSSIBLE FOR A CHILD OF HER AGE

WITH MORQUIO SYNDROME.

Rachel: A LOT OF KIDS BY 13 WITH MORQUIO

ARE CONFINED TO WHEELCHAIRS ALREADY.

BELLA WAS TOLD

SHE'LL NEVER RIDE A BIKE,

AND SHE WAS DETERMINED TO GET ON A TWO-WHEELER AND RIDE A BIKE.

GEORGE LIKES TO STAY RIGHT NEARBY.

HE, UH, CHASES HER, RUNS ALONGSIDE,

TRIES TO DEFINITELY KEEP UP WITH HER, WHEREVER SHE IS.

WE WERE TOLD SHE'LL NEVER BE ABLE TO SWIM,

NOW WATCHING HER OUT THERE KICKING, DIVING, DOING FLIPS,

IT'’S AMAZING.

I MEAN, JUST THE STRENGTH THAT SHE HAS WITH GEORGE NOW

AND HER ABILITY TO JUST BE A KID IS AWESOME.

SHE LIKES TO PROVE EVERYONE WRONG

AND DO THINGS SHE'’S TOLD SHE'’LL NEVER DO.

♪

Bella: GOOD BOY.

Rachel: HE HAS GIVEN HER INDEPENDENCE.

SHE'’S ABLE TO NOW WALK AROUND THE HOUSE WITHOUT GEORGE.

Bella: GO, GEORGE.

Rachel: SHE CAN WALK UP AND DOWN OUR STAIRS

WITHOUT A LOT OF HELP,

WHEREAS THREE YEARS AGO A LOT OF THESE THINGS SHE COULD NOT DO.

Narrator: GEORGE HAS GIVEN BELLA A COMPLETELY NEW LEASE OF LIFE.

Bella: COME HERE.

Narrator: AND HE'S SAVED HER FROM MUCH OF THE PAIN

HER CONDITION COULD HAVE CAUSED HER.

Bella: GOOD BOY.

GEORGE RETRAINED ME TO WALK.

I WASN'T GONNA GIVE UP, AND HE KNEW THAT,

SO HE HELPED ME MAKE SURE I WASN'’T GOING TO.

Narrator: THANKS TO HIS WORK WITH BELLA,

GEORGE WON THE AMERICAN KENNEL CLUB'S AWARD

FOR CANINE EXCELLENCE.

HIS STRENGTH, STATURE AND LOVING NATURE

HAVE MADE A HUGE DIFFERENCE TO BELLA'’S LIFE.

BUT YOU DON'’T HAVE TO BE BIG AND STRONG TO BE A HERO.

Man: SEARCH!

Narrator: THIS DOG IS USING SCENT RATHER THAN STRENGTH

TO RESCUE HUMANS FROM MAJOR DISASTERS.

Narrator: CALIFORNIA IS HOME TO ALMOST 40 MILLION PEOPLE

AND SITS ON THE SAN ANDREAS FAULT,

AN INFAMOUS HOTSPOT FOR EARTHQUAKES.

[RUMBLING]

10,000 TREMORS HIT THE STATE A YEAR.

[CRASHING]

THIS ONE IN NAPA VALLEY IN 2014

KILLED ONE PERSON AND INJURED 120.

THE NEXT "BIG ONE" IS OVERDUE.

BUT WHEN IT HITS, ROCKET WILL HELP TO SAVE LIVES.

THIS SIX-YEAR-OLD BORDER COLLIE CROSS

IS A VITAL MEMBER OF THE CALIFORNIA TASK FORCE.

Mike: ROCKET NEEDS TO BE ON HIS A-GAME ALL THE TIME

BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, AT ANY MOMENT

WE CAN HAVE A MAJOR DISASTER HIT.

Narrator: WHEN DISASTER STRIKES, FINDING SURVIVORS FAST

IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH.

IT CAN TAKE PEOPLE WEEKS TO SEARCH THE SITES

OF EARTHQUAKES, HURRICANES OR MUDSLIDES,

BUT DOGS LIKE ROCKET CAN DO IT IN MINUTES,

THANKS TO THEIR AMAZING SENSE OF SMELL.

[BARKING]

HE AND HIS HANDLER MIKE STORNETTA

ARE AT THE NATIONAL DISASTER SEARCH DOG FOUNDATION

AT SANTA PAULA IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.

THE CENTER HAS A SERIES OF REPLICA PRACTICE SITES,

EACH MIMICKING A DIFFERENT KIND OF DISASTER.

THE MOST COMPLEX IS - A 10,000- - SQUARE-FOOT PILE

OF DANGEROUS RUBBLE.

Mike: THIS IS A PERFECT REPRESENTATION OF AN EARTHQUAKE,

OF A COLLAPSE, A BUILDING COLLAPSE.

IT COULD HAPPEN AT ANY MOMENT IN CALIFORNIA,

SO IT'’S IMPORTANT WE'RE ALWAYS OUT HERE TRAINING FOR IT.

Narrator: THIS MORNING, ROCKET'S JOB

IS TO FIND A VOLUNTEER VICTIM

HIDING WITHIN THE REPLICA DISASTER ZONE.

EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS ARE TYPICALLY BURIED OUT OF SIGHT,

SO HE MUST USE ANOTHER SENSE TO GUIDE HIM: SMELL.

Mike: ONCE I PUT HIM INTO DRIVE,

HE KNOWS IT'S TIME TO GO TO WORK,

THERE'S NO MESSING AROUND, HE WANTS TO GO

AND HE WANTS TO FIND THE VICTIM IMMEDIATELY.

SEARCH!

Narrator: ROCKET MUST FIRST FIND THE SCENT TRAIL

BY GETTING DOWNWIND,

AND THEN TRACK THE ODOR BACKWARDS TO ITS SOURCE:

THE VICTIM.

Mike: ROCKET, AS YOU CAN SEE, IS GOING BACK AND FORTH

TO HONE IN ON EXACTLY WHERE THAT HUMAN SCENT IS.

Narrator: IT SOUNDS SIMPLE ENOUGH,

BUT IN A DISASTER, A SEARCH DOG MUST OPERATE

IN NOISY AND UNSTABLE SITUATIONS WITH CONFLICTING SCENTS

FROM THE ENVIRONMENT, CASUALTIES AND RESCUERS.

WITH UP TO A BILLION SCENT RECEPTOR CELLS

INSIDE A DOG'S NOSE,

ROCKET IS ABLE TO RAPIDLY DETECT

EVEN THE FAINTEST TRACE OF HUMAN SCENT.

Mike: HE'’S SO QUICK AND HE'’S SO FAST.

ROCKET'S ACTUALLY ABLE TO PLACE HIS PADS

IN AREAS WHERE HE'’S NOT GONNA GET INJURED.

[BARKING]

Woman: GOOD BOY! GOOD BOY! WOO-HOO!

Narrator: ONCE ROCKET LOCATES HIS TARGET,

HUMAN RESCUERS CAN MOVE IN.

Mike: CANINE SEARCH AND RESCUE. CALL OUT IF YOU CAN HEAR ME.

Narrator: LIKE MOST WORKING DOGS,

ROCKET IS DRIVEN BY HIS DESIRE TO PLAY.

Mike: GOOD BOY, BUDDY!

GOOD JOB, HUH?

WE WANT DOGS THAT ARE GONNA DO ANYTHING FOR THEIR TOY,

AND AS SOON AS WE KNOW THEY HAVE THAT DRIVE AND THAT ENERGY,

THEY HAVE GOOD POTENTIAL TO BE A SEARCH DOG.

ROCKET HAS EVERY PIECE OF THAT.

Narrator: ROCKET IS NOW A MEMBER

OF AN ELITE FORCE OF LIFE-SAVING DOGS,

BUT SIX YEARS AGO, IT WAS A DIFFERENT STORY.

ROCKET WAS ON DEATH ROW,

HAVING BEEN FOUND WANDERING THE STREETS AS A STRAY.

[DOGS BARKING]

EVERY YEAR, AN ESTIMATED 3.3 MILLION DOGS

END UP IN ANIMAL SHELTERS IN THE U.S.

[BARKS]

THE HOPE IS TO RE-HOME THEM,

BUT IF A SUITABLE PLACE CAN'T BE FOUND,

THE GRIM REALITY IS

THAT THESE UNWANTED DOGS MAY BE EUTHANIZED.

THAT IS, UNLESS SOMEONE COMES TO THEIR RESCUE.

Andrea: HEY, ROCKET BOOSTER!

OOH, YOU'RE A GOOD BOY.

Narrator: ANDREA BERGQUIST IS A CANINE RECRUITER

FOR THE SEARCH DOG FOUNDATION.

HER HUSBAND, CHRIS, IS A HANDLER, LIKE MIKE.

Andrea: HI!

SO I GOT AN EMAIL FROM THE SACRAMENTO SPCA

SAYING "WE HAVE A DOG, HE'S NOT ADOPTABLE,

BUT HE'’S VERY BALL-DRIVEN AND I THINK YOU SHOULD COME SEE HIM.

AND I THINK YOU SHOULD COME SEE HIM REALLY SOON

BECAUSE HE DOESN'T HAVE A LOT OF TIME."

HOW YOU BEEN, HUH?

THEY BROUGHT ROCKET OUT TO ME, AND HE WAS SO CRAZY.

HE WAS RUNNING AROUND, HE WAS PULLING ON THE LEASH,

HE WAS BARKING AT EVERYTHING.

I THREW THE TENNIS BALL A COUPLE TIMES,

AND HE JUST CHASED AFTER IT, LASER FOCUS.

I THOUGHT THIS IS GOING GREAT,

HE'’S GONNA BE A GREAT SEARCH DOG.

SO, WE TOOK HIM OUT TO A BIG FIELD

AND I PUT A LONG LEAD ON HIM

AND I THREW THE TOY INTO SOME TALL GRASS...

OKAY!

...AND HE BOMBED.

HE JUST DIDN'’T KNOW WHAT TO DO. HE JUST STARTED SNIFFING AROUND.

Narrator: ROCKET'’S RESCUE CAREER WAS OVER BEFORE IT BEGAN.

HE WOULD HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE SHELTER.

Andrea: I THOUGHT, UH, I CAN'T LEAVE HIM HERE, I CAN'T--

HE'’S SO AMAZING, I CAN'’T LEAVE HIM HERE.

Chris: I GET A PHONE CALL, "HEY, BABE, UM,

I WANT TO ADOPT THIS DOG."

OKAY, DID IT PASS THE TESTS?

"NOPE, BUT IT'S GONNA BE A GREAT DOG."

Andrea: HEY!

Narrator: ANDREA'’S DETERMINATION SAVED ROCKET'’S LIFE.

Andrea: YOU'RE LIVING THE GOOD LIFE NOW!

Narrator: THE COUPLE TOOK HIM IN

AND AFTER SEVERAL MONTHS OF BASIC HOME SCHOOLING,

ROCKET WON A PLACE AT THE NATIONAL TRAINING CENTER.

Andrea: CHRIS AND I DROVE THROUGH THE GATES

TO LEAVE HIM HERE, AND I WAS ACTUALLY KIND OF CRYING.

IT WAS SO EMOTIONAL BECAUSE THIS DOG WASN'’T SUPPOSED TO BE ALIVE.

AND HE GOT NOT ONLY A SECOND CHANCE AT LIFE

BUT HE HAS THIS NEW CAREER AND HE MIGHT EVEN SAVE A LIFE.

GOOD BOY, ROCKET. GOOD BOY.

Narrator: ROCKET AND MIKE BECAME PARTNERS

DURING BASIC TRAINING IN 2014.

ON GRADUATION, ROCKET BECAME

PART OF MIKE'’S FIRE DISTRICT CREW IN WINDSOR.

THEIR FIRST EMERGENCY CALL-OUT WAS IN 2016

WHEN A LIGHT AIRCRAFT CRASHED IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA.

DURING THE INITIAL SEARCH, TWO PEOPLE WERE FOUND DEAD,

BUT THE FIRST RESPONDERS FEARED

THERE MAY HAVE ALSO BEEN TWO CHILDREN ON BOARD.

ROCKET WAS CALLED IN TO HELP.

Mike: WE RESPONDED, AND ROCKET CLEARED AN AREA

OF ABOUT 10 ACRES IN ABOUT 10 MINUTES.

AT THE END WE WERE ABLE TO TELL EVERYONE THERE

THAT, HEY, THERE'S NO ONE LEFT HERE,

THERE ARE NO SURVIVORS THAT ARE LEFT HERE.

Narrator: FORTUNATELY, ROCKET'S SEARCH CONFIRMED

THE CHILDREN HAD NOT BEEN ON BOARD.

Mike: WE WERE ALL ABLE TO REST AT EASE

KNOWING THAT WE WEREN'’T LEAVING ANYONE THERE.

Narrator: SINCE THEN, ROCKET AND MIKE HAVE DEPLOYED

ON BACK-TO-BACK RESCUE MISSIONS.

IN 2017 THEY SEARCHED FOR FLOOD VICTIMS

WHEN HURRICANE HARVEY HIT TEXAS AND IRMA HIT FLORIDA.

AND IN 2018 THEY WORKED

DURING THE DEVASTATING MUDSLIDE NORTH OF LOS ANGELES.

[BARKS]

ONE OF THE MOST COMMON DISASTERS THE TEAM FACES

IS THE COLLAPSE OF BUILDINGS AND INFRASTRUCTURE

DURING EARTHQUAKES.

TO PREPARE FOR THESE TYPES OF CATASTROPHES,

TODAY THE TEAM WILL RUN TWO VERY DIFFERENT DRILLS

TO SHARPEN ROCKET'’S SEARCH SKILLS.

THE FIRST CHALLENGE IS WORKING

IN A MUCH MORE COMPLEX - 3- - D ENVIRONMENT

WHERE THE SCENT HE'’S SEARCHING FOR WON'’T BE AT GROUND LEVEL.

THIS TIME THE VICTIM IS HIDING IN THE BOAT ABOVE HIM.

Mike: SEARCH!

♪

I TOTALLY TRUST THAT WHAT ROCKET'S DOING

IS A TACTIC TO FIND THE VICTIM,

AND I'’M NOT GONNA INTERFERE WITH THAT.

♪

I'M MERELY THE HAND THAT LET GO OF THE COLLAR

AND SENT HIM ON A SEARCH.

HE'’S METHODICALLY FAST IS HOW I WOULD DESCRIBE ROCKET.

[DOG PANTING]

Narrator: ROCKET HAS BEEN TRAINED TO SIGNAL

WHEN HE FINDS A SURVIVOR.

BUT HE MUST BE 100% CERTAIN OF THE VICTIM'S PRECISE LOCATION

BEFORE HE ALERTS MIKE.

ANY ERRORS COULD COST THE TEAM PRECIOUS TIME.

[DOG PANTING]

MOST DETECTION DOGS ARE TAUGHT

TO PASSIVELY INDICATE A TARGET...

[BARKING]

BUT IN CHAOTIC DISASTER SITUATIONS,

SEARCH DOGS NEED TO BARK.

Woman: GOOD BOY!

Mike: GOOD JOB!

Woman: YEAH, HI. ALRIGHT! CAN I LET GO NOW?

Mike: HE DID A GREAT JOB.

HE GOT DOWNWIND OF THE SCENT.

FIGURED OUT THAT IT WAS AN ELEVATED SCENT.

HE FIGURED OUT THE WAY,

HIS ROUTE OF TRAVEL TO GET UP TO THE VICTIM,

AND THEN HE PINPOINTED WHERE THE VICTIM WAS,

SO IT WAS TEXTBOOK. HE DID A GREAT JOB.

Narrator: ROCKET'S TRAINING AND HIS STREET SMARTS

MAKES HIM A RELIABLE SEARCH DOG IN OUTDOOR DISASTERS.

BUT HE MUST BE PREPARED FOR ALL KINDS OF CATASTROPHES.

LIKE WHEN THIS PASSENGER TRAIN DERAILED IN PENNSYLVANIA

KILLING EIGHT PEOPLE AND INJURING 200.

FINDING CASUALTIES TRAPPED

INSIDE CONFINED SPACES LIKE THESE

IS A TOUGHER TASK FOR RESCUE DOGS

BECAUSE THE SCENT TRAILS ARE LESS DISTINCT.

THIS IS ROCKET'’S FINAL CHALLENGE.

Mike: READY TO GO TO WORK? HUH? READY TO GO TO WORK?

YOU ARE, HUH?

READY?

SEARCH!

INTERIOR SEARCHES, THEY'RE ACTUALLY

A LITTLE BIT MORE COMPLEX THAN EXTERIOR SEARCHES.

Narrator: REDUCED AIRFLOW INSIDE THE TRAIN CARRIAGE

MEANS THAT SCENT SPREADS OUT

AND SEEMS TO COME FROM EVERYWHERE AT ONCE.

AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEMS CAN CONFUSE THE DOG FURTHER.

Mike: THAT SCENT WILL TRAVEL

THROUGH THOSE VENTILATION SYSTEMS.

THE DOG WILL BE ALERTING AT A VENT.

THE DOG'S NOT WRONG,

HOWEVER, IT'S A MIND GAME FOR THE HANDLERS

TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THAT VICTIM IS.

WORK IT OUT. [BARKING]

CANINE SEARCH AND RESCUE. CALL OUT IF YOU CAN HEAR ME.

Woman WOO-HOO! WOO!

Mike: VERY NICE.

Woman: ALRIGHT! WOO!

Narrator: ROCKET'’S NOSE NEVER LETS HIM DOWN.

Mike: THERE IS NOTHING THAT IS AS FAST AS THESE DOGS

AT FINDING THE LIVE HUMANS.

THESE GUYS ARE PIVOTAL

IN FINDING THESE VICTIMS IN A TIMELY FASHION.

[BARKING]

Narrator: ROCKET'S EXTRAORDINARY SENSE OF SMELL

IS HELPING TO SAVE LIVES DURING NATURAL DISASTERS...

BUT A POWERFUL NOSE CAN ALSO BE AN EFFECTIVE TOOL

IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CRIME.

IN AFRICA, DOGS ARE USING THEIR SUPER CANINE SENSE

TO SNIFF OUT TRAFFICKERS

AND RESCUE ANIMALS FACING EXTINCTION.

SOUTH LUANGWA NATIONAL PARK IN ZAMBIA.

HOME TO SOME OF AFRICA'’S MOST ICONIC ANIMALS.

BUT THIS WILDERNESS IS NOW A BATTLEGROUND

IN A VIOLENT WAR AGAINST WILDLIFE.

[ELEPHANT ROARING]

HERE, ELEPHANTS ARE BEING KILLED FOR THEIR TUSKS.

IF THE CURRENT RATE OF IVORY POACHING CONTINUES,

THERE COULD BE NO WILD ELEPHANTS LEFT BY 2040.

BUT FIGHTING ON THE FRONTLINES TO STOP THE TRADE

IS A TOP TEAM OF DETECTION DOGS.

AND THIS IS THEIR SECRET WEAPON.

RUGER IS A SIX-YEAR-OLD LABRADOR-GERMAN SHEPHERD MIX

AND THE LEADER OF THIS UNIT OF ANTI-POACHING DOGS.

RUGER AND HIS CANINE COLLEAGUES

HAVE A REMARKABLE ABILITY TO DETECT ELEPHANT IVORY,

WHICH THEY CAN SNIFF OUT,

THANKS TO THEIR EXTRAORDINARY SENSE OF SMELL.

AND IT'S JUST AS WELL,

BECAUSE WHAT MAKES RUGER REALLY EXTRAORDINARY

IS THAT HE'’S ALMOST COMPLETELY BLIND.

Narrator: TODAY THE CANINE UNIT FROM CONSERVATION SOUTH LUANGWA

IS HEADING OUT ON DUTY.

THEY'’RE SETTING UP A ROADBLOCK TO SEARCH PASSING VEHICLES.

THIS IS A NOTORIOUS ROUTE FOR TRAFFICKERS

TRYING TO SMUGGLE IVORY AND OTHER WILDLIFE CONTRABAND

OUT OF ZAMBIA.

THIS ILLEGAL TRADE IS A MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR INDUSTRY

THAT'S DECIMATING WILDLIFE ACROSS AFRICA.

FOR RUGER AND HIS HANDLERS, THERE'’S A REAL RISK INVOLVED.

♪

Narrator: RUGER'’S NOSE GETS TO WORK.

BUT IN A SITUATION WHERE TRAFFICKERS COULD BE ARMED,

HE MUST BE CAREFUL NOT TO TRIGGER A REACTION.

SO IF HE DETECTS IVORY, WHICH HAS A VERY DISTINCT SCENT,

HE'LL SIT TO QUIETLY SIGNAL THE FIND TO HIS HANDLER.

RUGER'S SKILLS LEAD TO ARRESTS,

AS THE UNIT'’S FOUNDER RACHEL McROBB REPORTS.

Rachel: RUGER HAS GOT MANY, MANY ARRESTS UNDER HIS BELT.

HE HAS PROBABLY BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR AT LEAST 20 ARRESTS.

SOME OF THAT'S IVORY, SOME OF THAT'S FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION,

AND SOME OF THAT'’S BUSH MEAT.

ON EACH CASE, IF RUGER WASN'T AROUND,

THOSE PEOPLE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ARRESTED.

HE WORKS EXTREMELY METHODICALLY WHEN HE'S DETECTING

BECAUSE HE DOESN'T GET DISTRACTED

BY EVERYTHING ELSE THAT'’S GOING ON.

SO THAT'’S WHAT REALLY MAKES HIM SPECIAL.

THE FACT THAT HE'S BLIND

DOESN'’T REALLY SEEM TO BOTHER HIM AT ALL.

HE'’S A VERY HAPPY DOG AND LOVES HIS JOB.

Narrator: RUGER'’S DETECTION WORK IS VITALLY IMPORTANT.

GLOBAL SEIZURES OF ILLEGAL IVORY HIT RECORD LEVELS IN 2016.

Rachel: AFRICA IS UNDER HUGE THREAT

LIKE IT'’S NEVER SEEN BEFORE.

WE'VE SEEN A STEADY INCREASE

IN ELEPHANT POACHING AND WILDLIFE TRAFFICKING

OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS.

Narrator: EVERY DAY, AROUND 55 AFRICAN ELEPHANTS

ARE KILLED BY POACHERS.

THAT'S MORE THAN ARE BEING BORN.

MOST IVORY IS DESTINED FOR CHINA AND SOUTHEAST ASIA,

WHERE THE DEMAND FOR ILLEGAL WILDLIFE

IS AMONG THE HIGHEST IN THE WORLD.

CATCHING THE TRAFFICKERS IS CRITICAL TO STOPPING THE TRADE.

AIRPORTS AROUND THE WORLD

USE SNIFFER DOGS TO DETECT CONTRABAND.

BUT FINDING IVORY BEFORE IT LEAVES ZAMBIA

PUTS RUGER'S DETECTION TEAM

CLOSER TO STOPPING THE POACHERS AND SAVING ELEPHANTS.

ON THIS MORNING'’S PATROL, RUGER FINDS NOTHING SUSPICIOUS.

THAT'’S GOOD FOR WILDLIFE, BUT IT CAN BE FRUSTRATING FOR THE DOG.

Narrator: THE NEXT VEHICLE HAS IVORY PLANTED INSIDE IT.

THE DRIVER IS PART OF THE SET-UP.

BUT WILL RUGER FIND THE HIDDEN HAUL?

♪

HE SITS.

HE'’S FOUND THE SECRET STASH.

Narrator: THE REWARD FOR HIS HARD WORK IS HIS FAVORITE TOY.

Man: GOOD BOY.

Narrator: BUT WHAT MAKES A DOG LIKE RUGER

SUCH AN EXTRAORDINARY DETECTION AGENT IN THE FIRST PLACE?

PART OF THE ANSWER LIES IN HOW HIS BRAIN DIFFERS FROM OURS.

ALL DOGS LIVE IN A WORLD

DOMINATED BY THEIR SENSE OF SMELL.

RELATIVELY SPEAKING, THE AREA OF THEIR BRAIN DEVOTED TO SCENT

IS ABOUT 40 TIMES BIGGER THAN OURS.

BUT NATURAL ABILITY IS ONLY HALF THE STORY.

ANTI-POACHING DOGS UNDERGO EXTENSIVE TRAINING,

AND DAILY SNIFFING PRACTICE HELPS TO HONE THEIR SKILLS.

RUGER'S CANINE COLLEAGUE IS TYGEE,

ONE OF SEVERAL DOGS ON THE CONSERVATION TEAM.

AS A UNIT THEY'RE TRAINED TO DETECT 11 DIFFERENT ITEMS--

SUCH AS LEOPARD SKINS, IVORY AND AMMUNITION--

EACH WITH ITS OWN SIGNATURE SMELL.

IN THE FIGHT AGAINST ORGANIZED CRIME,

THE TEAM CONDUCTS HOUSE SEARCHES

TO CRACK DOWN ON ILLEGAL POACHING.

Godfrey: OH, GOOD BOY!

Narrator: IN A SITUATION LIKE THIS,

THE DOGS WORK EXTREMELY FAST AND EFFICIENTLY.

IT TAKES TYGEE LESS THAN THREE MINUTES TO CLEAR THE HOUSE.

Godfrey: GOOD BOY!

Narrator: DESPITE BEING BLIND,

RUGER IS THE MOST SKILLFUL DOG IN THE ANTI-POACHING UNIT.

MOST OF THE DOGS CAN DETECT SEVERAL DIFFERENT ITEMS,

BUT RUGER IS THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN RECOGNIZE ALL 11.

BEFORE HE CAME TO ZAMBIA FOUR YEARS AGO,

HE WORKED AS A NARCOTICS DETECTION DOG IN THE U.S.

RUGER'S REWARD FOR DETECTING THE IVORY

IS A GAME OF TUG-OF-WAR.

Narrator: THE ANTICIPATION OF PLAY

INCREASES THE PRODUCTION OF DOPAMINE,

A NEUROTRANSMITTER THAT CONTRIBUTES

TO FEELINGS OF PLEASURE AND CONTENTMENT.

IN JUST FOUR YEARS,

THE CANINE UNIT HAS ARRESTED 80 WILDLIFE CRIMINALS.

THE DOGS ARE A VALUABLE TOOL

IN THE FIGHT TO SAVE ELEPHANTS FROM EXTINCTION,

SO THEIR HEALTH AND WELL-BEING IS OF UTMOST IMPORTANCE.

Rachel: HI, GUYS.

THE MOST AMAZING THING IS THE BOND

THAT THE HANDLERS HAVE FORMED WITH THE DOGS.

THERE'’S NOTHING THEY WOULDN'’T DO FOR THEM.

♪

Narrator: CLOCKING OFF AT THE END OF THE DAY

MEANS RUGER GETS TO COOL DOWN IN HIS VERY OWN PLUNGE POOL.

FOR DOGS AS IMPORTANT AS THESE, NO LUXURY IS SPARED.

Rachel: FOR A DOG'S LIFE, FOR A WORKING DOG'S LIFE,

HE'’S KIND OF LIVING THE DREAM.

HE'’S A VERY HAPPY DOG.

HE SWIMS, HE WORKS, HE PLAYS.

HE'’S JUST AN AWESOME DOG, AND WE ALL LOVE HIM.

HE DOES VERY IMPORTANT AND VERY SERIOUS WORK,

AND HE DOESN'’T REALLY KNOW HOW IMPORTANT HE IS.

♪

Narrator: WHILE RUGER'S NOSE

IS HELPING TO SAVE ANIMALS FROM EXTINCTION.

IN ITALY, DOGS ARE COMING TO THE RESCUE

IN A VERY DIFFERENT WAY.

HERE, THEY'RE USING THEIR STRENGTH AND STAMINA

TO PULL PEOPLE OUT OF LIFE-THREATENING SITUATIONS.

LAKE GARDA IN NORTHERN ITALY.

THOUSANDS OF TOURISTS COME HERE EVERY YEAR,

DRAWN TO ITS COOL, DEEP WATER.

BUT WATER CAN BE DANGEROUS.

[THUNDER]

A CHANGE IN WEATHER

CAN SUDDENLY MAKE EVEN A CALM LAKE TREACHEROUS.

AROUND 360,000 PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD DROWN EVERY YEAR.

IT'S THE THIRD LEADING CAUSE OF ACCIDENTAL DEATH.

HERE IN LAKE GARDA, A TEAM IS TRAINING

THE NEXT GENERATION OF LIFE-SAVING WATER RESCUE DOGS.

[DOG BARKING]

REEF IS A NEWFOUNDLAND,

A BREED THAT'’S PARTICULARLY WELL-ADAPTED TO WATER.

HIS THICK COAT HAS TWO LAYERS--

ONE THAT'S WATER-RESISTANT

AND ANOTHER TO INSULATE AGAINST THE COLD.

HIS PAWS ARE WEBBED, MAKING IT EASIER TO SWIM.

BUT WHAT MAKES REEF EXTRA SPECIAL

IS THAT HE'S SO EXPERIENCED,

HE NOW TEACHES OTHER DOGS HOW TO SAVE LIVES.

[DOG BARKING]

THE ITALIAN SCHOOL FOR RESCUE DOGS

HAS TRAINED 300 FOR ACTIVE DUTY.

MOST ARE DEPLOYED TO BEACHES AND LAKES

DURING THE BUSY TOURIST SEASON.

THE SCHOOL TEACHES MOSTLY NEWFOUNDLANDS AND LABRADORS,

BUT GERMAN SHEPHERDS LIKE DIESEL

CAN ALSO MAKE EXCELLENT WATER RESCUE DOGS.

DIESEL IS NINE MONTHS OLD AND EAGER TO GET HER FEET WET.

Man: DIESEL! DIESEL!

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

[SIREN]

Narrator: EMERGENCY CALL-OUTS

ARE OFTEN FROM BOATS ON OPEN WATER,

SO AN APPRENTICE LIKE DIESEL MUST ALSO HAVE GOOD SEA LEGS.

[SIREN]

REEF SITS CALMLY ALONGSIDE

AS THE TEAM HEADS OUT TO DEEPER WATER,

WHERE DIESEL WILL LEARN HOW TO RESCUE SOMEONE IN DISTRESS.

[SIREN]

[DOG BARKING]

AL, THE OTHER NEWFOUNDLAND, WILL BE TEACHING THIS LESSON.

WATER RESCUE DOGS LEARN TO SWIM TOWARDS STRESSFUL SITUATIONS,

WHICH GOES AGAINST A DOG'S NATURAL SURVIVAL INSTINCT.

Narrator: AL TAKES THE PLUNGE.

[DOG BARKING]

[DOG BARKING]

♪

Narrator: WHILE AL DEMONSTRATES

HOW TO PULL HER HANDLER AND THE VICTIM TO SAFETY,

DIESEL WATCHES INTENTLY FROM THE BOAT.

OBSERVING THE BEHAVIOR OF ANOTHER DOG

IS KNOWN AS SOCIAL LEARNING.

IT HELPS OTHERS UNDERSTAND WHAT TO DO IN A NEW SITUATION.

IN THIS SCENARIO, AL IS PAIRED WITH A HUMAN TEAMMATE.

WHEN A VICTIM IS UNCONSCIOUS,

THEY WORK TOGETHER TO PULL THE PERSON TO SAFETY.

THIS IS WHY AL'’S EXCEPTIONAL STRENGTH IS SO IMPORTANT.

HER BIG BUILD ALLOWS HER

TO DRAG MULTIPLE PEOPLE THROUGH THE WATER AT ONCE.

[DOG BARKING]

HISTORICALLY, THIS BREED WAS FIRST USED BY FISHERMEN

FOR HAULING HEAVY NETS ASHORE.

BECAUSE WHEN IT COMES TO PULLING EXTRA HEAVY LOADS,

THERE'S NO DOG BETTER THAN A NEWFOUNDLAND.

♪

Man: OK? [DOG BARKS]

♪

Narrator: THERE ARE NINE PEOPLE AND SEVEN DOGS

ON BOARD THIS RESCUE BOAT.

Man: DIESEL? OK?

Narrator: BUT AL HAS ABSOLUTELY NO TROUBLE PULLING IT TO SHORE.

[BARKING]

Man: GRANDE CANE!

♪

[SIREN]

Narrator: HAVING WATCHED THE OTHER DOGS IN ACTION,

IT'S TIME TO SEE WHETHER DIESEL

HAS THE ENTHUSIASM AND CONFIDENCE

TO LEARN FROM THE INSTRUCTOR DOGS.

[DOG BARKING]

Narrator: REEF IS THE LAST TO SHOW DIESEL HOW IT'’S DONE.

[DOG BARKING]

DIESEL MUST NOW FOLLOW HER OWNER, STEFANO,

AND MAKE HER FIRST JUMP...

WITH A LITTLE HELP.

[BARKING]

Stefano: GRANDE CANE!

♪

Narrator: DIESEL HAS TAKEN A MAJOR STEP

TOWARDS BECOMING A WATER RESCUE DOG.

IF SHE MAKES IT THOUGH THE REST OF HER TRAINING,

THIS YOUNGSTER COULD SPEND THE NEXT TEN YEARS

SAVING PEOPLE'’S LIVES.

Narrator: DOGS' NATURAL ABILITIES CAN HELP US

AND OTHER ANIMALS IN MANY EXTRAORDINARY WAYS.

Mike: CANINE SEARCH AND RESCUE! CALL OUT IF YOU CAN HEAR ME.

Narrator: THROUGH THEIR STRENGTH, STAMINA

AND THEIR REMARKABLE NOSES,

OUR CANINE COMPANIONS CAN TRANSFORM OUR LIVES

AND COME TO OUR RESCUE WHEN WE NEED THEM MOST.

♪