Dick Van Patten's Natural Balance® Pet Foods: Programs

Meet Some ATF Dogs!

Magnum: Yolo Count, CA, Fire Investigation Task Force

Magnum is a two year old Yellow Lab. He was rescued from a Texas animal shelter and attended the Texas Canine Academy Training Centers Accelerant Detection K9 Program in April 2008. Magnum and Handler Matthew Milliron are members of the Yolo County Fire Investigation Task Force and the Esparto Volunteer Fire Department. Magnum is the first Accelerant K9 in the County. Yolo County’s K9 program is a fully sponsor driven program and with donations like Natural Balance Magnum is able to assist local agency’s in the fight against arson. Investigator Milliron and Magnum are available to any school in Yolo County to provide talks regarding fire prevention and K9 demonstrations.

Visit Magnum's website at www.firek9.net.

Henny: Seattle, WA, Fire Department

Henny is an Accelerant Detection Canine trained by the ATF and now working with the Seattle Fire Department. Henny is the first "Arson Dog" for the Seattle Fire Department. Because of generous sponsors like Natural Balance, Henny is able to travel to other Fire Departments in the Pacific Northwest and assist in their fire investigations. Visit Henny's website!

Tahoe: Painseville Township, OH, Fire Department

Accelerant Detection K-9, Tahoe, and his partner, Investigator Gordon S. Thompson, have been trained and certified by the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives. He is available to Northern Ohio Police and Fire Departments, and is a member of the ATF's National Response Team and the Lake County Fire Investigation Unit.

Marty: Wapato Police Department, WA, Narcotic K9 Detection Unit

Marty is a two year old Yellow Labrador. He graduated from the Narcotic K9 Detection School in December, 2005; he and his handler, Officer Randy Sperle, are a certified Narcotic K9 Detection Team under the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission. Marty has been trained and is certified to detect the odors of Cocaine, Heroin, Methamphetamine, and Marijuana, and works for the Wapato Police Department Narcotic K9 Detection Unit but is also available to assist any Federal, State, or other local agency in Yakima County Washington in the detection of narcotics. Officer Randy Sperle and K9 Marty are available to any school district in Yakima County to provide talks regarding drug prevention, K9 Detection demonstrations, and to provide locker checks, etc. in the prevention of drug use and or sales on school campuses.

Mira: Montgomery County, MD, Fire & Rescue

Mira is a 2 1/2 year old Accelerant Detection K-9, trained at the ATF program in Front Royal, Virginia in 2005. She has worked on a variety of fire scenes ranging from accidental fires to homicide. Mira and her partner, Captain Robert Rutten, are members of the ATF National Response Team and the ATF Maryland Arson Task Force. She resides with him, his wife Margery, and their three kids, Bradly, Jena, and Drew. Mira and Rob are photographed on one of the many fire scenes they have investigated together

Oliver: Houston Fire Department, Arson Bureau

Oliver is a 2-year-old Accelerant Detection K-9. He was raised in York Town Heights, NY by Shoshanna Greenland with the Guiding Eyes for the Blind. He was released to K-9 accelerant training and graduated March, 2006. He currently lives and works with K-9 handler G. Chapa in Houston Texas.

Bardot: Johnson City Fire Department

Bardot is a Black Labrador Retriever, and an Acceleration Detection K9 for the Johnson City, Tennessee Fire Department. She is one of 70 dogs trained by the Bureau of Tobacco and Firearms to detect accelerants in very small amounts. Bardot and her handler Sam McLain serve on the BTAF National Response Team, which can be mobilized to investigate fires nationwide.

Ellie: Dekalb County, Georgia Fire Investigations Unit

K9 Ellie is a Black Labrador Retriever. She was born on September 24, 1998. She is trained in the detection of ignitable liquids commonly used in the crime of Arson. Through her puppy years she was trained to be a guide dog for the Guiding Eyes for the Blind. However in 2001, she had a career change and was accepted into the Accelerant Detection K-9 program with the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms. During her training, she was paired with Detective J.E. Wainright with the DeKalb County Fire & Rescue Department. She and Detective Wainright are members of the ATF National Response Team and the Metro Atlanta Arson Task Force.They have worked fires in Georgia, Florida, and Puerto Rico. She is a valuable tool to the fire investigations unit.

Sparky: Rhode Island Fire Department

Sparky and Rhode Island Fire Investigator Stephen Day. Story to come!

Cedar: Massachusetts State Police Fire & Explosion Investigation Section

Cedar is a 7 year old black Labrador Retriever and an Accelerant Detection K-9. Her handler is Trooper Timothy P. Bombard. Cedar has searched approximately 450 fire scenes and performed over 75 training and public service demonstrations. While never having actually testified, Cedar has provided evidence in over 100 arson cases and dozens of prosecutions (including several murders). Hundreds of 'samples' have been submitted for lab analysis based on Cedar's searches with a 95% success rate. Cedar is a very healthy and active dog, looking forward to retirement and more playtime with her family's two young boys.

Iris: Fire Investigations, Anne Arundel County Fire Marshal's Office

Investigator Doug Wilson and Iris are assigned to the Fire Investigations Section of the Anne Arundel County Fire Department, Fire Marshal's Division. Iris and Doug are a Nationally ATF Certified Accelerant K-9 team. Iris was trained to detect 17 ignitable liquids which assist fire investigators in determining the cause of an incendiary fire. Investigator Wilson is a Fire, Arson, & Explosion Investigator with the Anne Arundel County Fire Department, Anne Arundel County, Maryland. He has over 36 years experience in the fire service with 32 years in the Anne Arundel County Fire Department. The last 19 years he has been assigned to the Fire Investigations section of the Anne Arundel County Fire Marshals Division, Anne Arundel County Fire Department. He is a Certified Fire Investigator and a member of the A.T.F. Maryland Arson Taskforce.

Kazan: Fire Investigations, Montana State Fire Marshal's Office

Kazan worked 6 years for the Montana State Fire Marshal's Office. Her handler, Allen Lorenz, retired Kazan in the fall of 2004. Kazan was used in Montana and surrounding states with the ATF National Response Team. Kazan was trained in the first ATF class at Front Royal, VA., in 1998. Kazan will be 9 years old Feb. 14, 2005. She now leads a normal life and eats Natural Balance Dog Food.

Blaze: Fire Investigations, St. Louis County Police Department

Blaze Blaze is a three-year-old Yellow Lab. Her handler is Fire Investigator John Raines. Blaze is one of a special group of canines that are nationally certified in Accelerant Detection. She received her training from the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) in March, 2003. While in training, Blaze learned to identify numerous ignitable liquids, and her job is to locate evidence of arson at fire scenes. Blaze and John are assigned to the St. Louis County Police Bomb and Arson Unit and works with all fire and law enforcement agencies in St. Louis County and the St. Louis Metropolitan area.

Cinder: Suffolk County Fire Marshal's Office

Cinder is a seven-year-old Black Lab. His handler is Fire Marshal Brett Martinez. Brett and Cinder received their training from the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF). Brett and Cinder are one of only 50 Federally certified Accelerant Detection Canine Teams in the United States. Cinder is available to assist all fire and law enforcement agencies in Suffolk County and throughout New York State. Cinder and Brett are also assigned to the ATF National Response Team. Cinder and Brett have been on the job as a K-9 Team since 1999 and between them they have worked over 350 fire scenes.

Caesar: Madison County, Alabama ATF Team

Caesar and his handler, Tony, are assigned to the Alabama ATF Team. Caesar has worked many cases, and has assisted agencies in sending arsonists away. He doesn't only fight crime, he is also a great help in teaching fire prevention. He visits local schools, and is great with children.

Trixie: South Carolina Law Enforcement Division.

Trixie working a house fire, in which she found 13 hits, and the homeowner pled guilty to arson.

This is Arson K-9 Trixie, an ATF Arson K-9 who works for the S.C. Law Enforcement division. Her handler is senior agent Andy Weir, they have been together since May, 2000. Trixie is 6 years old, and she works in all 46 Counties in South Carolina. She enjoys working, and also loves her Natural Balance® dog food. She lives with a retired Arson K-9 named Radar, a black lab who worked for 6 years before retiring, he is now 13 years old. Trixie has several arrests to her credit.

Isaiah: Maryland State Fire Marshals office

Isaiah is a six-year-old Black Lab. His handler is Fire Investigator Tim Warner, who has been a deputy state fire marshal since 1992. Isaiah is one of a special group of canines that are nationally certified in Accelerant Detection. He received his training from the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) in March, 2000. While in training, Isaiah learned to identify numerous ignitable liquids, and his job is to locate evidence of arson at fire scenes. Isaiah and Tim are assigned to the Maryland State Fire Marshalls office.