Rescue dog retiring from Rapid City Fire Department

RAPID CITY, SD – There are some big shoes – or rather paws – to fill at the Rapid City Fire Department.

Cisco, the first dog to be employed by the department will be retiring Friday (June 25) as a result of deteriorating health following a seven year career with RCFD.

RCFD public information officer Tessa Jaeger says don’t underestimate Cisco’s contributions to fire crews.

Cisco working a building collapse in Sioux Falls, SD. (Photo by Joe Ahlquist of the Argus Leader/RCPD Facebook)

“Cisco is amazing,” shares Jaeger.  “He’s a ‘live-find’ canine.  What that means is that he doesn’t need an article of clothing to search  and he is certified to find live victims.  If he’s doing a building collapse or a shore or wildland search, he’s out there looking for live victims.

In fact, Cisco is currently the only dog with such certifications in South Dakota, a role that led him to all corners of the state.

“He’s done some pretty amazing things,” says Jaeger.  “He has been called out to a building collapse in Sioux Falls, in the search for missing youth Serenity Dennard and for people lost  in the Badlands.”

Jaeger said with his health, Cisco has earned a comfortable retirement with his handler, Jeremy Gibbons.

“We are retiring him a year earlier than planned.  He’s not doing so good and is health is deteriorating. Cisco was our first dog as a member of our department.  We’ve been planning his retirement party. We’ll get him his own ‘doggie treat’ cake.”

Jaeger said the search is underway for a new dog to fill Cisco’s role.

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Rapid City, US
6:31 am, December 12, 2024
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Sarah Bestgen

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