Once a Truckee stray, now she’s a hero searching for survivors in Venezuela

From Truckee shelter to earthquake response in Venezuela

A dog that arrived at the Humane Society of Truckee-Tahoe as a stray is now helping search for survivors after devastating earthquakes in Venezuela.

Greta came to the Truckee shelter in 2024, where staff quickly noticed qualities they believed made her stand out. Those observations ultimately led to the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation, where Greta trained to become a disaster search dog before deploying to Venezuela last month.

“Our staff quickly noticed her friendly personality, unwavering confidence, and one undeniable obsession: tennis balls," said Steph Nistler, CEO of the Humane Society of Truckee-Tahoe. “Those traits weren't just charming; they were exactly what the Search Dog Foundation looks for in future disaster search dogs.”

After the shelter shared Greta's story on Facebook, a Search Dog Foundation volunteer and Humane Society team members recognized her potential. Having previously partnered with the foundation, the shelter reached out, and Greta was accepted into its training program.

According to the Humane Society, trainers found Greta to be smart, energetic, social, and driven to search. She graduated from the program in May 2024 and was paired with firefighter Arby Fields of California Task Force 2.

Fields' path to becoming a search-and-rescue handler began long before he met Greta. Before becoming a firefighter, he played professional baseball for the Chicago White Sox and Seattle Mariners. After experiencing the 2005 Southern California wildfires firsthand and witnessing firefighters help his community, he decided to pursue a career in the fire service. Later, he learned about FEMA canine handlers and knew it was the path he wanted to follow.

“When he first met Greta during handler training, he knew he had made the right decision for both of them.

“After an agility demonstration, Greta ran right to me and leapt into my arms. I knew right then the bond had been created," Arby recalls.

The pair earned FEMA certification in February 2025, allowing them to deploy to disasters across the United States and internationally with USA-2.

That opportunity came June 25, when Greta and Fields deployed to Venezuela following 7.2 and 7.5-magnitude earthquakes. Working alongside search-and-rescue teams from around the world, Greta searched collapsed buildings for survivors as hundreds of people died and thousands more remained missing.

“Greta’s story is a powerful reminder of why every shelter animal deserves a second chance. The frightened stray who once wandered into our shelter is now a highly trained disaster search dog whose work may help save lives in one of the world's most challenging moments,” says Nistler. “We are incredibly proud to have played a small part in Greta's journey and grateful to the Search Dog Foundation for recognizing her extraordinary potential. Most of all, we're thankful to Arby for believing in her, trusting her, and forming a partnership built on courage, dedication, and an unbreakable bond.”

As Greta and Fields continue their work in Venezuela, the Humane Society of Truckee-Tahoe is encouraging the community to wish them, along with the other first responders and canine teams, strength, safety, and success.

“Sometimes, the dog waiting quietly in a shelter kennel isn't just waiting for a home,” says Nistler. “Sometimes, they're waiting to become a hero.”

From Truckee shelter to earthquake response in Venezuela A dog that arrived at the Humane Society of Truckee-Tahoe as a stray is now helping search for survivors after devastating earthquakes in Venezuela. Greta came to the Truckee shelter in 2024, where staff quickly noticed qualities they believed made her stand out. Those observations ultimately led to the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation, where Greta trained to become a disaster search dog before deploying to Venezuela last month. “Our staff quickly noticed her friendly personality, unwavering confidence, and one undeniable obsession, tennis balls," said Steph Nistler, CEO of the Humane Society of Truckee-Tahoe. “Those traits weren't just charming; they were exactly what the Search Dog Foundation looks for in future disaster search dogs.” After the shelter shared Greta's story on Facebook, a Search Dog Foundation volunteer and Humane Society team members recognized her potential. Having previously partnered with the foundation, the shelter reached out, and Greta was accepted into its training program. According to the Humane Society, trainers found Greta to be smart, energetic, social and driven to search. She graduated from the program in May 2024 and was paired with firefighter Arby Fields of California Task Force 2. Fields' path to becoming a search-and-rescue handler began long before he met Greta. Before becoming a firefighter, he played professional baseball for the Chicago White Sox and Seattle Mariners. After experiencing the 2005 Southern California wildfires firsthand and witnessing firefighters help his community, he decided to pursue a career in the fire service. Later, he learned about FEMA canine handlers and knew it was the path he wanted to follow. “When he first met Greta during handler training, he knew he had made the right decision for both of them. “After an agility demonstration, Greta ran right to me and leapt into my arms. I knew right then the bond had been created," Arby recalls. The pair earned FEMA certification in February 2025, allowing them to deploy to disasters across the United States and internationally with USA-2. That opportunity came June 25, when Greta and Fields deployed to Venezuela following 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes. Working alongside search-and-rescue teams from around the world, Greta searched collapsed buildings for survivors as hundreds of people died and thousands more remained missing. “Greta’s story is a powerful reminder of why every shelter animal deserves a second chance. The frightened stray who once wandered into our shelter is now a highly trained disaster search dog whose work may help save lives in one of the world's most challenging moments,” says Nistler. “We are incredibly proud to have played a small part in Greta's journey and grateful to the Search Dog Foundation for recognizing her extraordinary potential. Most of all, we're thankful to Arby for believing in her, trusting her, and forming a partnership built on courage, dedication, and an unbreakable bond.” As Greta and Fields continue their work in Venezuela, the Humane Society of Truckee-Tahoe is encouraging the community to wish them, along with the other first responders and canine teams, strength, safety and success. “Sometimes, the dog waiting quietly in a shelter kennel isn't just waiting for a home,” says Nistler. “Sometimes, they're waiting to become a hero.”