Meet Joey, rescue dog who found 3 people alive under earthquake rubble

When disaster strikes, concrete dust and debris cover everything in sight, and finding someone alive can seem an almost impossible task. That impossible task is what Joey, a 2-year-old Labrador Retriever with a nose for the impossible and months of specialized training, was trained to do.The Los Angeles County Fire Department’s search-and-rescue K-9 has already proven himself a valuable addition to the team, helping to find three people alive in earthquake debris. Now the young dog is receiving national recognition as a semifinalist in the American Humane Society’s 16th annual Hero Dog Awards, states an online report by abc7.From practice to realityAccording to the report, Joey is employed by the Urban Search and Rescue Task Force, USA-2, Los Angeles County Fire Department. He and his handler, Los Angeles County Fire Capt. Louis Gudiel, trained together for more than five months before passing their certification in September 2025.