Rachael Ray Foundation Helps Surrendered Golden Retriever Become Disaster Search Dog (Exclusive)

Cam the golden retriever has found himself an exciting new role by embracing change.

According to the Rachael Ray Foundation, which supports causes close to the celebrity chef’s heart, like animal welfare, the former owner of the spirited pup made the difficult decision to surrender the dog after falling ill. Cam’s former owner contacted Delaware Valley Golden Retriever Rescue (DVGRR) for help finding a suitable new home for the energetic and loyal canine.

DVGRR took in the dog and quickly noticed his enthusiasm for enrichment and high activity level, as he showed excitement for every type of toy in the rescue’s collection. The rescue staffers thought Cam might benefit from having a job where he could put all this excited energy, so the organization contacted the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation (SDF), one of its partners, about Cam’s potential for the SDF’s training program.

The golden retriever rescue followed up with videos of Cam, highlighting the features that made him a solid disaster search dog candidate. SDF agreed, and with support from the Rachael Ray Foundation’s Rescue Brigade program, brought the dog to their training center to test his mettle.

Rachael Ray Foundation’s Rescue Brigade program through SDF was “born to give rescue pups a second chance and a new purpose,” Ray, 57, tells PEOPLE.

The Rachael Ray Foundation is fully funded by the proceeds from the sale of Rachael Ray Nutrish. 

“The goal is to turn ‘rescues’ into ‘rockstars’ — dogs who go on to save lives and bring hope in times of need. The Rachael Ray Foundation supports the program with funding and resources, ensuring these amazing animals receive the training they need to shine,” she adds.

With the support of the Rachael Ray Foundation, SDF, and DVGRR, Cam excelled in disaster search dog training. Even during the dog’s initial screenings, trainers noted Cam’s comfort with rocky terrain, ability to pick up new tasks quickly, and commitment to completing any goals set for him.

After charming his trainers and acing his tests, Cam officially graduated from search training in July and was placed with Brock Bybee of Oklahoma Task Force 1.

“Cam is a total superstar! His story proves that rescue dogs are full of love, grit, and endless possibilities—they just need the right chance,” Ray says of the dog’s success.

Cam has continued to shine since starting work with firefighter Bybee.

“Cam is a good disaster response dog because he has a very high drive. He will work until he can’t physically work anymore. Cam has more energy than I’ve ever seen in another dog, which is exactly why the Search Dog Foundation chose him to be a disaster search dog,” Bybee says of his canine partner, calling the dog “playful and mischievous” outside of work.

With Bybee, Cam is now responsible for responding to large-scale natural disasters, building collapses, and missing person reports, where his skills as a search dog will be vital for finding people in need of help.

Off the clock, Cam enjoys life at home with Bybee and his family, where “he plays with my other dog and refuses to sit still,” Bybee says. “While he’s a working dog, he is a member of our family and gets to just be a dog when he’s not working.”

The firefighter adds that he is always ready to talk about Cam’s heroics because “we need these dogs to save lives. If the human nose could smell live human scent, we wouldn’t need these dogs. But we do.”

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“These dogs do not get enough credit, and neither do the people who recruit and train them to be top-notch search dogs at the Search Dog Foundation. Finding a dog like Cam in the shelter and training him to be ready to help after a disaster is truly amazing — he gets a great life and helps to save others.”