About Us

Kayla Hardin holds a Bachelors of Science degree in Psychology with an emphasis in Behavior Analysis from the University of California, San Diego and a Masters of Science degree in Psychology from Arizona State University.  Understanding how learning occurs and modifying behavior holds a special interest for her.   She has been active in Search and Rescue since 2005, starting in trailing and currently working her dog, Darwin, who is trained in Area – Air Scent and HRD/Cadaver and has deployed on many missions with him including recent large scale disasters in the state of California.  She is also currently working her third dog, Gaia, in HRD/Cadaver.  Current team affiliations California Rescue Dog Association and San Diego Sheriff’s Department Search and Rescue.

Donna Sanford has been a dog handler in the Riverside area since 1999. She is POST Certified in NASAR SAR Tech II, Mantracking, and Managing the Lost Person Incident.  She is a 22 year veteran K9 handler with California Rescue Dog Association (CARDA) and has previously been a member of Riverside County Search Dogs (RCSD).  Donna has served on the Board of Directors for both organizations serving in various positions including President, Vice President and Treasurer for CARDA and RCSD.  She has deployed on more than 100 missions with her dogs certified in Area – Air Scent, HRD/Cadaver, and Water, as well as, serving as a flanker to other teams in the field.  She is currently training her fourth dog in the discipline of HRD/Cadaver.  Donna is an educator by career  teaching for over 28 years in special education and more recently in general education. She believes in quality life-long learning whether that is in a person’s chosen field of career, dog handling or life in general.

Steve Sanford has been a dog handler in the Riverside area since 1999. He is POST Certified in NASAR SAR Tech II, Mantracking, and Managing the Lost Person Incident.  He is a 22 year veteran K9 handler with California Rescue Dog Association (CARDA) and has previously been a member of Riverside County Search Dogs (RCSD).  Steve has served on the Board of Directors for both organizations serving in various positions including President, Vice President and Treasurer and Secretary RCSD.  He has deployed on more than 50 missions with his dogs certified in Area – Air Scent and HRD/Cadaver as well as, serving as a flanker to other teams in the field.  He is currently training his third dog in the disciplines of Area – Air Scent and HRD/Cadaver.