Disaster Dog Podcast
By: disasterdogpodcast
Language: en
Categories: Kids, Family, Pets, Animals
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...
Episodes
Disaster Dog Podcast Episode 3 with Macy Hunsicker of VA-TF1
Dec 15, 2025We 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 ne...
Duration: 01:10:31Disaster Dog Podcast Episode 2 with Dr. Jennifer Brown of FL-TF2
Oct 23, 2025In this episode, Mike and Rami sit down with Dr. Jennifer Brown of Florida Task Force 2 and the FEMA Incident Support Team (IST). Jen shares her remarkable journey from working as an equine surgeon to becoming a canine sports medicine and rehabilitation veterinarian.
She offers insight into the development of her working Labrador breeding program, discussing what it takes to produce dogs capable of excelling not only in Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) but across various working and performance disciplines.
We also dive into her history as a USAR handler, with an impressive record of...
Duration: 01:49:07Disaster Dog Podcast Episode 1 with Ryan Cusack of IN-TF1
Sep 25, 2025We kick off our very first episode with a special guest—Ryan Cusack of Indiana Task Force 1. Ryan takes us through his journey, from an early fascination with canines, to working alongside his now-retired live find partner, Jake, and ultimately stepping into his current role as Search Team Manager for IN-TF1.
In this episode, Ryan shares stories of memorable deployments, reflects on how the world of search and rescue canines has evolved over the years, and even gives us a behind-the-scenes look at his recent flight with the Air Force Thunderbirds.
It was an honor to...
Duration: 01:14:01