Meet Our Dogs
Research & Bio-Detection Dogs
These canines contribute their superior sniffing skills to the critical research initiatives underway at hte Penn Vet Working Dog Center.
Atlas
Registered Name: Atlas
Breed: Labrador Retriever
DOB: December 4, 2021
Gender: Male
Kennel: Susquehanna Service Dogs
Foster: Sarah Levin
Job: Detection Research
Dalton
Registered Name: Dalton
Breed: Labrador Retriever
DOB: February 14, 2020
Gender: Male
Kennel: Generously donated by Chiron K9
Foster: Amritha Mallikarjun
Job: Medical Detection
Osa
Registered Name: Osa
Breed: German Shepherd
DOB: April 4, 2014
Gender: Female
Kennel: vom Kugelblitz Kennels
Foster: Annemarie DeAngelo
Legacy: Named in honor of Osa (Handler Laura LoPresti) who deployed to the World Trade Center following the attacks of 9/11.
Job: Medical Detection
Video: Osa’s YouTube
Vauk
Registered Name: Vauk
Breed: Labrador Retriever
DOB: January 24, 2021
Gender: Female
Kennel: PVWDC
Foster: Dr. Cindy Otto
Legacy: Named in honor of 9/11 victim Lt. Cmdr. Ronald James Vauk, US Navy.
Job: Medical Detection
Video: Vauk’s YouTube
Future Working Dogs
Dogs that complete our comprehensive training program go on to careers in public health and safety including search and rescue, law enforcement, and conservation detection.
If you’re interested in one of our dogs for your next K9 partner, contact us at wdcinfo@vet.upenn.edu.
Aiesha
Registered Name: Aiesha
Breed: Dutch Shepherd
DOB: May 19, 2024
Gender: Female
Kennel: Donated by Dr. Karen Wroblewski-Tundo in memory of Asheley McCleary, DVM.
Foster: Rachel Miller
Legacy: Named and sponsored by the McCrane Foundation
Job: In training
Allin
Registered Name: Allin
Breed: German Shepherd Dog
DOB: November 17, 2024
Gender: Male
Kennel: Julia Norton VMD
Foster: Morgan Schamroth
Legacy: Named and Sponsored by Bill and Kathie Hohns
Job: In training
Anka
Registered Name: Anka
Breed: Labrador Retriever
DOB: November 16, 2024
Gender: Female
Kennel: James & Samantha Plackemeier
Foster: Trinity Bass
Legacy: Named in honor of Glassboro, NJ, PD K9 Anka
Sponsored by: John Moore
Job: In training
Cody2
Registered Name: Cody2
Breed: Labrador Retriever
DOB: September 1, 2024
Gender: Femail
Kennel: Donated by Newfound Retrievers in honor of Ruth and Glenn Freeman
Foster: Kristin Tederstrom
Legacy: Named in honor of K9 Dusty (Handler Patricia Grant) who did not deploy following the attacks of 9/11 but served as a “control” dog in PVWDC 9/11 research study. Named in honor of former PVWDC Training Manager, Pat Kaynaroglu’s first search K9, Cody.
Job: In training
Emma
Registered Name: Emma
Breed: German Shepherd Dog
DOB: January 12, 2024
Gender: Female
Kennel: Qwick vom Eisenraben x PVWDC
Foster: Emely Urbina
Legacy: Named in honor of K9 Emma (Handler Dennis Ciesla) who did not deploy following the attacks of 9/11 but served as a “control” dog in PVWDC 9/11 research study.
Sponsored by: Anonymous Donor
Job: In training
FloJo
Registered Name: FloJo
Breed: Labrador Retriever
DOB: March 27, 2024
Gender: Male
Kennel: Folklore Canine
Foster:
Legacy: Named in honor of K9 FloJo (handler Beckie Stanevich), who was not deployed following the attacks of 9/11, but served as a control dog in the PVWDC 9/11 research study.
Job: In training
Lucca
Registered Name: Lucca
Breed: Belgian Malinois
DOB: July 24, 2024
Gender: Female
Kennel: Donated by Dr. Karen Wroblewski-Tundo in memory of Asheley McCleary, DVM
Foster: Vilok Parimi
Legacy: Named in honor of explosives detection K9 Lucca who was employed by the United States Marine Corps for six years. K9 Lucca was deployed twice to Iraq and once to Afghanistan. In her over 400 missions, no human fatalities occurred under her watch. In 2012, while on patrol in Afghanistan, she was injured by an IED blast, resulting in the amputation of her left leg. After recovering at Camp Pendleton, Lucca officially retired in 2012 and was adopted by her original handler, Gunnery Sergeant Chris Willingham.
Job: In training
Mollee
Registered Name: Mollee
Breed: German Shorthaired Pointer
DOB: September 24, 2022
Gender: Female
Kennel: Apple River Sporting and Detection Dogs
Foster: Sonja Lee Chen
Legacy: Named in honor of K9 Mollee (handler Julie Jones) who was not deployed following the attacks of 9/11 but served as a “control” dog in our 9/11 research study.
Job: In Training
Olly
Registered Name: Olly
Breed: Labrador Retriever
DOB: December 27, 2023
Gender: Male
Kennel: Anonymous Donor Bred by Jenn Brown
Foster: Melissa Esterly
Legacy: Named in honor of K9 Molly (Handler Jennifer Kandlik (Browning)), who was not deployed following the attacks of 9/11 but played a critical role as a “control” dog in WDC 9/11 research study.
Sponsored by: Anonymous Donor
Job: In training
Penny
Registered Name: Pennsylvania (Penny)
Breed: Labrador Retriever
DOB: July 28, 2024
Gender: Female
Kennel: Three Cedars Retrievers
Foster: Tzuriel & Katie Sapir
Legacy: Penny was named in honor of the important role that the Commonwealth and the University of Pennsylvania have played in the success of the PVWDC. Twelve years ago, Socks, one of our first puppies, was bred and donated by Three Cedars Retrievers, and since then, they have donated Gus, Scout, Lucas, and now Penny.
Job: In training
Sovaan
Registered Name: Sovaan
Breed: Dutch Shepherd
DOB: July 8, 2023
Gender: Male
Kennel: Donated by Angela Lane in loving memory of her daughter, Asheley McCleary, VMD, bred by Northwoods and Thunderhawk Dutch Shepherds
Foster: Bob and JoAnne Dougherty
Legacy: Named in honor of K9 Sovaan (Handler Anne LeJeune) who was not deployed following the attacks of 9/11 but served as a control in our 9/11 research study.
Job: In training