A former homeless dog in Los Angeles County has received a prestigious award for her search-and-rescue efforts following a June earthquake in Venezuela, the Los Angeles County Fire Department announced Friday.
Roma, a 6-year-old black Labrador retriever, and her handler, Derek Morree of the Los Angeles County Fire Department, have been named this year’s recipients of the Pet Hero Award from Helen Woodward Animal Center, an animal welfare nonprofit.
“She’s my girl,” Morree told NBC Los Angeles, adding he and Roma have been partners for the past five years.
The K-9 spent the first months of her life, living on the streets of Los Angeles before being rescued. When the rescue group’s staff members recognized Roma’s potential, they connected her with the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation, which trained her as an Urban Search and Rescue canine. These highly trained dogs help locate living or deceased victims after disasters such as earthquakes.
Roma and Morree were among the Los Angeles County personnel deployed to Venezuela for a 10-day search-and-rescue mission. Alongside other K-9 teams, Roma searched through collapsed structures for survivors, according to the fire department.
“We are incredibly proud of Fire Fighter Morree, Roma, and our ongoing partnership with the Search Dog Foundation,” the department said in a social media post.
Roma and her handler were honored this week at Helen Woodward Animal Center’s annual Remember Me Thursday ceremony for their efforts in Venezuela.