Who We Are

Dr. Lori E. Gordon

Dr. Gordon began working in search and rescue as a Veterinary Medical Officer with the Veterinary Assistance Team 1 (VMAT 1) in 1998, and was deployed with that team to the World Trade Center in September 2001. She has trained in this capacity with small animal, large animal and exotic species. She joined the Massachusetts Task Force 1 Urban Search and Rescue Team in 2002. With tremendous support from the team, she has written several papers geared towards educating doctors and medics on emergency and veterinary care of search dogs, decontamination procedures, and modernizing the canine medical cache, all with peer review. Her next goal of making this information available to all was realized with the formation of USAR veterinary group website. She was involved with promoting an official Veterinary Officer position in the FEMA system which was approved in 2007 and added to FEMAs Incident Support Teams (IST) roster. Also, Dr. Gordon is part of the USNORTHCOM National Animal Decontamination Work Group (NADWG), Animal Decontamination Best Practices Work Group (ADBPWG), among others. Publications include Injuries and illnesses among urban search-and-rescue dogs deployed to Haiti following the January 12, 2010, earthquake, Injuries and illnesses among Federal Emergency Management Agency–certified search-and-recovery and search-and-rescue dogs deployed to Oso, Washington, following the March 22, 2014, State Route 530 landslide, and Injuries and illnesses among human remains detection–certified search-and-recovery dogs deployed to northern California in response to the Camp Fire wildfire of November 2018. After her first deployment to the World Trade Center Dr. Gordon has deployed to a landside, a chemical explosion, and multiple hurricanes. 

Dr. Gordon received her veterinary degree from Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1989. She spent the next year in a small animal internship at North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine, and then graduated from a three-year small animal surgical residency program at The Animal Medical Center in New York City in 1993. After one year there as an associate, and four years at a private practice in Massachusetts, Dr. Gordon began Veterinary Surgical Care, Inc., a traveling surgical service serving veterinary hospitals in southern New Hampshire and Northern Massachusetts. She trains Davner, a search-and-recovery canine certified with IPWDA and NSDA, who also serves as her main teaching model for lectures in canine medical care to EMTs, paramedics, and doctors in the system. In her spare time, Dr. Gordon serves on the board of directors for Wolf Hollow, the North American Wolf Foundation educational center, provides wolf medical care, and gives educational tours. 

Dr. Jennifer Brown

Dr. Jennifer Brown became involved in disaster response as a member of the Veterinary Medical Assistance Teams in 2005.  After spending 5 weeks in Mississippi and Louisiana in response to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, where she helped in with the veterinary care of the FEMA US&R dogs, she developed an interest in expanding her knowledge of the training and care of these important assets.  Dr. Brown began providing canine veterinary care and training for MD TF-1 in 2006 and became a task force member as the team veterinarian in 2007. While becoming a canine handler was not in her plans, she ultimately acquired and certified her first US&R live find canine Phanesse in 2009. Since 2010 she has certified 4 Live Find and 2 Human Remains Detection canines.  After moving to Florida in 2010 she became a member of FL TF-2 as a canine search specialist and team veterinarian.  Her deployments as a canine handler include Hurricanes Irma, Florence, Dorian, Michael, and Ian, the Puerto Rico earthquakes, Oregon Wildfires, and the Surfside, FL Champlain Towers condominium collapse.  Dr. Brown is also a member of the FEMA US&R Incident Support Team and has deployed as the IST Veterinarian to Hurricanes Matthew, Ida, and Ian as well as the recent Maui Wildfires.  She is a strong proponent of providing veterinary pre-hospital care education to first responders through the Medical Team Training as well as other seminars and workshops. 

Dr. Brown is a 1999 graduate of Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine and Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation and is a American College of Veterinary Surgeons board certified large animal surgeon.  She currently practices in Tampa, FL at a specialty practice she founded – Florida Veterinary Sports Medicine
and Rehabilitation.

Dr. Deb Zoran

Dr. Deb Zoran is a founding member and the second Director of the Texas A&M Veterinary Emergency Team (VET).  Her DVM was awarded in 1984 from Kansas State University, followed by a PhD in nutrition from Texas A&M, where she rose to Professor and taught small animal medicine for 20 years. Since joining VET in 2009, she has been on over 25 deployments to multiple types of disasters in Texas and beyond, including wildfires in California and hurricanes in Louisiana and Florida.  She helped develop and has been a lead instructor for the required clinical rotation in Veterinary Emergency Management to 4th year veterinary students (the only such rotation in the US).  She is also a member of Texas A&M Task Force as veterinary support for the working canines and serves on the FEMA Incident Support Team as a Veterinary Specialist in support of working canines deployed to national disasters.  

Dr. Jennifer Jeske

Dr. Jennifer Jeske is an Emergency and General Practice Veterinarian working in Northern California. Along with her live find canine partner Dash, she is also a Canine Search Specialist and a Technical Search Specialist with FEMA CA-TF7 in Sacramento.  Dr. Jeske completed veterinary school at UC Davis in 2009 along with a Masters in Preventive Veterinary Medicine the following year, and has treated animals of all sizes large and small with a special interest in small animal emergency medicine and rural veterinary practice.  She currently splits her time between a busy clinic in rural Northern California and specialty hospital emergency relief.  She initially began her journey with USAR in 2015 attending canine trainings with the 3 Northern California FEMA Task Forces and the Search Dog Foundation for several years before adopting and training Dash, a high energy border collie who would like nothing better than to fetch toys and find hidden people all day, as her first canine partner.  She also assists with care of the USAR canines on the local FEMA Task Forces, medical training, and most recently has been fortunate to have the opportunity to join as an IST veterinarian.

In her spare time, Dr. Jeske is a licensed helicopter pilot working on additional ratings, enjoys trail running and trail maintenance around her small mountain town, skiing, and occasionally joins an on-call wildland fire hand crew in the summer.  But most importantly, she loves spending time with her other freeloading pets at home:  2 more high energy dogs, a horse, and a one-eyed cat who prefers to sleep all day and be catered to as the princess of the house.  

Dr. Kate Fernhoff

Kate Fernhoff graduated veterinary school at UC Davis in 2017 and completed a rotating internship at VCA Northwest Veterinary Specialists in 2018. She has been practicing exclusively as an ER veterinarian since that time and is now working as a relief veterinarian in the Denver area. She started training search and rescue dogs with the California Rescue Dog Association in 2013 and trained/certified a wilderness live find and human remains detection dog. She joined CO-TF1 in 2022 and certified a live find dog in 2023.

Dr. Cynthia Otto

Dr. Otto has been involved in disaster medicine as an active member of the Pennsylvania Urban Search and Rescue Task Force 1 between 1994 and 2010, and as a consultant to the Task Force since 2010. She deployed with the team to Hurricane Floyd in September 1999 and the World Trade Center in September 2001. She was a veterinary medical officer with the Veterinary Medical Assistance Team-2 from 1999 to 2016, deploying to Hurricane Katrina in August of 2005. She was the lead investigator of the AKC CHF funded longitudinal study monitoring the search and rescue dogs of September 11, 2001.

Dr. Otto received her veterinary degree from The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1986.  She completed her small animal internal medicine residency training in 1990 and her PhD in veterinary physiology in 1994, both at the University of Georgia.  She is currently a tenured professor of Working Dog Sciences and Sports Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. She served as an attending veterinarian in the Ryan Veterinary Hospital Emergency Service from 1991 through 2016.  She served the director of the Veterinary Clinical Investigation Center in 2006-2009. Dr. Otto is board certified by the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care (ACVECC) and the American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation (ACVSMR). Dr. Otto served as the editor of the Journal of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care from 2000 to 2006. As executive director and founder of the Penn Vet Working Dog Center (www.vet.upenn.edu/WDC ), she oversees fitness and medical care of the program’s detection dogs, provides rehabilitation and conditioning for police and other working dogs and conducts vital research on and by detection dogs.  With over 120 peer reviewed articles, reviews and book chapters, she is an internationally recognized expert in both emergency medicine and working dog science. She was Pennsylvania’s 2002 “Veterinarian of the Year”, received Ohio State’s Alumni Recognition Award (2006) and Distinguished Alumnus Award (2008), AVMA’s Bustad Companion Animal Veterinarian of the Year (2018), Mark Bloomberg Award (2019) and Asa Mays DVM, Excellence in Canine Health Research award (2021).

Dr. Janet Merrill

Dr. Merrill received her veterinary degree from Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1980. She has been a partner at the Wilton Animal Hospital in Wilton, New Hampshire for 20 years. Her search and rescue career began with Navigator, a beautiful German shepherd dog. Her favorite hobby is…guess what? Dog training! She also has traveled extensively throughout the United States for advanced training in canine search and rescue. She has a special interest in canine fitness training.

Dr. Merrill has been a canine search specialist with the Massachusetts Task Force 1 Urban Search and Rescue Team since October of 2002.  Her first search dog Chai certified in 2005, and went on to certify twice more, deploying to Hurricanes Sandy, Ernesto, Katrina and the Springfield tornado. She also titled with a BH and passed her RH-A and RH-B with high enough scores to qualify her for the IRO World Search Dog Championship in Belgium (as far as I know she is the only dog in the US with this accomplishment). Her second search dog Adler (HR) passed FEMA certifications twice, IPWDA HR Advanced wilderness in Maine, IPWDA HR Disaster in RI and SUSAR HR in CT. Her third search dog, a rescue, was Xio Haq (named for an Afghan soldier and the small command post where my son was serving on his first deployment to Afghanistan). He passed FEMA LF certification. Her fourth search dog, Asti, was trained in HR and passed her IPWDA HR certification with Matt Zarrella at 18 months then went on to certify twice with FEMA. A record of 19 canine tests in two disciplines in 16 years with no failures, a fact of which she and her dogs are quite proud. 

In 2007 she became a Live Find Evaluator, then a Human Remains Detection Evaluator when HR was recognized by FEMA in 2014. She attended, participated in or evaluated approximately 10 CEs and at least three times as many FSA’s. In July of 2014 she became Canine Coordinator for MA TF1 USAR, retiring in 2020. She now enjoys retirement with K9 Asti, her constant companion. 

Teresa MacPherson

Teresa MacPherson has been involved in Search and Rescue since 1990 and Urban Search & Rescue since 1993 until her retirement in 2022. She and her Labradors have responded to wilderness, water, cadaver and disaster searches on the local, state and federal level. Her current operational dogs are certified in disaster with FEMA and one is operational in wilderness and human remains detection.  She and her partners have responded to over 250 searches, including several disaster missions.  These missions include the 1995 Oklahoma City Bombing of the Federal Building (1995), numerous hurricanes including Hurricane Katrina (2005), Irma & maria in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands (2017). Disaster missions include the Haiti Earthquake (2010), Japan Earthquake 7 Tsunami (2011), and Nepal Earthquake (2015. 

Her human remains detection search experience includes numerous responses to call-outs by the FBI, the Secret Service, State and local law enforcement agencies, and federal missions, including the Oso, Washington landslide (2014). She has instructed nationwide, as well as in Turkey, the United Kingdom, Australia, and South America. In addition to being a rostered instructor for FEMA, Teresa also serves as an Evaluator for FEMA and the State of Virginia, a member of the FEMA Search Working Group, and Chair of the FEMA Canine Sub-Group. 

She resides in Virginia with her husband and her Labradors. 

Detective Scott Mateyaschuk

Detective Mateyaschuk has dedicated over two decades to serving communities through law enforcement and FEMA and Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) operations. His journey began in 2000, when he joined the New York City Police Department as a law enforcement officer, honing skills in crime prevention, investigation, and community engagement.

In 2004, he transitioned into urban search and rescue joining NY-TF1. Drawn by a passion for aiding individuals in crisis situations, he underwent rigorous training in disaster response, technical rescue, and emergency medical care. Throughout his USAR career, he has been deployed to numerous high-stakes situations, including natural disasters, building collapses, and wildfires as a NY-TF1 member and as an Incident Support Team liaison and Division Group Supervisor.

Detective Mateyaschuk’s expertise lies not only in field operations but also in leadership and training. He has held positions of responsibility within his FEMA USAR team, mentoring, instructing and guiding new handlers in canine and Search Team Managers. He also spent three consecutive terms as the Canine Chair for the FEMA Canine Sub-Group and recently transitioned to the Incident Support working group. 

 

His leadership style emphasizes teamwork, safety, and efficiency, traits that have been instrumental in successful law enforcement jobs and rescue / recovery missions. Over the years, he has accumulated a wealth of experience and accolades in both law enforcement and USAR. His commitment to public service and unwavering dedication continues to define his career.

 

Dr. Erin Perry

Dr. Erin Perry has been a handler with the Federal Emergency Management Agency since 2004. She has deployed to Hurricane Katrina, the Joplin MO tornado, as well as other national disasters.  Dr. Perry received her MS and PhD in Animal Nutrition from the University of Missouri-Columbia and spent 9 years with Purina Animal Nutrition before joining the faculty at Southern Illinois University.  Dr. Perry’s interest in canine decontamination began following a near fatal event for her canine partner following exposure to chemical contaminants at the Joplin MO tornado deployment. That experience resulted in the development of a research program surrounding canine decontamination and laid the foundation for her work on a decision matrix to inform handler decontamination decisions in the field.

Dr. Perry is a tenured professor at Southern Illinois and has published multiple peer-reviewed studies related to canine decontamination.  In 2023 the American Society of Animal Scientists presented Dr. Perry with the Corbin Award in Companion Animal Biology for her work in canine skin health and decontamination. 

Dr. Perry is a frequent consultant for various law enforcement and government agencies and is a recognized SME in canine decontamination and canine nutrition.

Dr. Laura McLain

Dr. Laura McLain received her doctor of veterinary medicine from the University of Wisconsin in 1997. She has lived in the Salt Lake City, Utah, area since 1999. She works in general small animal practice, emergency medicine, and shelter medicine. Her passion is working dogs. Dr. McLain first became interested in the health issues of working dogs through caring for K9 Jake, an urban search and rescue dog who deployed to the World Trade Center and Hurricane Katrina. Jake was enrolled in Dr. Otto’s long-term study of 9/11 dogs, and was a frequent visitor to the hospital until his death in 2007. Dr. McLain joined FEMA USAR Utah Task Force 1 in 2011 and served as team veterinarian through 2019. Although no longer deploying, she still provides primary medical, dental, and surgical care for the UT-TF1 canines, as well as law enforcement and avalanche K9s. She is pursuing certification as a Working Dog Practitioner through the Penn Vet Working Dog Center at the University of Pennsylvania.

Dr. Scott Mason

Dr. Mason first became involved with search and rescue following the bombing of the Alfred Murrah building in Oklahoma City in 1995. He provided medical care for the search and rescue canines and helped coordinate veterinary volunteers at the site. Since that time, Dr. Mason has been quite active in the disaster response, public health and homeland security. He has been a member of Oklahoma Task Force -1 US&R since inception and serves as canine search team field coordinator.

Dr. Mason has previously served as the Oklahoma Veterinary Medical Association Disaster Preparedness Coordinator, the Oklahoma MRC State Animal Response Team Coordinator, and chaired the American Veterinary Medical Association Committee on Disaster and Emergency Issues. He has served as a member of the Oklahoma Homeland Security Council and as a board member for the National Alliance of State Agriculture and Animal Emergency Programs in which he co-chaired for the veterinary medical best practice working group. In additional to OKTF-1 US&R, he is a member of the National Veterinary Response Team, a part of the Federal Department of Health and Human Services, as well as the National Animal Health Emergency Response Corp. He teaches Operational Canine Medicine and Disaster Animal Triage at Oklahoma State University, College of Veterinary Medicine. He has been deployed both with OKTF-1 and NVRT to numerous events both within the State of Oklahoma and nationally.

Dr. Mason received his Bachelor’s degree in Animal Science in 1987 and his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 1991, both from Oklahoma State University. He received his certification as an Emergency Medical Technician – Basic in 2008. He joined the staff of Putnam North Animal Hospital in Oklahoma City in 1992 and has practiced there ever since.

Dr. William A. Grant II

Dr. William A. Grant II is owner and Chief of Staff of Community Veterinary Hospital (CVH). 

Dr. Grant received his Bachelor of Science degree from Arizona State University and his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) from Kansas State University in 1989 (located in Manhattan, Kansas – or fondly called the ‘Little Apple”). After veterinary school, he completed an internship in small animal medicine and surgery at the Animal Medical Center in New York City. 

Dr. Grant is passionate about all aspects of veterinary medicine and has dedicated his life to his patients, their owners, and the veterinary profession. He has a special interest is soft tissue and orthopedic surgery, and enjoys working with the brave working dogs and K9 handlers. Dr. Grant is the veterinarian for many local and state law enforcement agencies, for FEMA Task Force 2 & 5, and has lectured about emergency care of working canines at the California Narcotic Canine Association Annual Conference since 1994. Dr. Grant is a strong supporter of animal rescue efforts and generously donates his time and expertise to local rescue organizations. 

For 30 years, Dr. Grant has been and continues to be an active volunteer and leader for numerous community and veterinary organizations including the Boys and Girls Clubs of Garden Grove, the Hoag Foundation, The California Veterinary Medical Board Multidisciplinary Committee, the Southern California Veterinary Medical Association, the California Veterinary Medical Association, and the American Veterinary Medical Association. Dr. Grant enjoys mentoring veterinary students and has been a preceptor for third- and fourth-year veterinary students at Western University College of Veterinary Medicine since 2007.

Dr. Alexis Newman

Dr. Newman is the Team Veterinarian for US&R Illinois Task Force 1 – Urban Search and Rescue Team MABAS – Illinois. She is very active with the K9s, attending their training and seeing them for any veterinary care. She has been deployed with the team.

Dr. Newman received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Iowa State University in 1998. Following veterinary school, she completed a Surgical and Emergency Internship. Dr. Newman’s special interests include trauma, emergency surgery and pain management. She completed her certification from the International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management, Certified Veterinary Pain Practitioner (CVPP). Dr. Newman also writes a veterinary column for Police K-9 magazine. She teaches K9 trauma care to both handlers and medics.

Having a special interest in police and working K9s, as owner of Partners and Paws Veterinary Services, in Chicagoland, Dr. Newman provides care for over 80 police departments K9. These include local municipalities, state, and federal agencies. She has worked with them for many years and understands the needs of the K-9, the handler, and police departments. Her passion of working with police dogs and their handlers, led to starting the practice. Prior to opening Partners and Paws Veterinary Services in June, 2013, Dr. Newman spent her career in Specialty Referral hospitals, as an Intern, then as an Emergency and Critical Care clinician, followed by Medical Director of two specialty hospitals. Dr. Newman also enjoys working with rescue groups and ‘civilian’ dogs and cats.