Bruno and Tuz: Two truly top dogs join FEMA's elite K-9 disaster relief team

Bruno and Tuz recently graduated from an elite federal training program.

December 7, 2018, 7:05 PM

Two new canines have joined the ranks of FEMA's first responders.

PHOTO: Bruno is one of the new canines who joined the ranks of FEMA's first responders.
Bruno is one of the new canines who joined the ranks of FEMA's first responders.
ABC News

ABC News was there to witness New York Police Department (NYPD) dogs Tuz and Bruno earn their certification with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Urban Search and Rescue team.

These elite K-9s are sent on disaster relief missions around the nation following a natural disaster.

PHOTO: Tuz searches for victims at the rubble pile in Staten Island, N.Y.
Tuz searches for victims at the rubble pile in Staten Island, N.Y.
ABC News

Tuz is named after fallen NYPD Sargent Paul Tuozzolo, who was killed in the line of duty last year. He is handled by Police Officer Dan Bosco.

PHOTO: Tuz with his handler NYPD Officer Dan Bosco at the FEMA Urban Search and Rescue team exam.
Tuz with his handler NYPD Officer Dan Bosco at the FEMA Urban Search and Rescue team exam.
ABC News

Bruno, who came from the Czech Republic, is handled by Police Officer Anthony Barreto.

PHOTO: Bruno with his handler NYPD Officer Anthony Barreto at the FEMA Urban Search and Rescue team exam.
Bruno with his handler NYPD Officer Anthony Barreto at the FEMA Urban Search and Rescue team exam.
ABC News

Barreto said that the moment he saw Bruno, he knew he wanted to be paired with him because the dog looked like “he wanted to work.”

In an interview with ABC News, Tuz couldn’t seem to look away from the obstacle course and kept pulling to go back on to the rubble pile.

“All he wants to do is work," Bosco told ABC News. "All the time."

PHOTO: The rubble pile that is used for FEMA Urban Search and Rescue team certification in Staten Island, N.Y.
The rubble pile that is used for FEMA Urban Search and Rescue team certification in Staten Island, N.Y.
ABC News

The biggest challenge the dogs face in the exam is the terrain, Detective Scott Mateyaschuk, lead trainer of the Emergency Service K-9 team, said.

Mateyaschuk explained that the test is not only for the dogs; the examiners are also testing how the K-9 and the handler work together as a team.

PHOTO: Bruno is seen here making a live victim rescue.
Bruno is seen here making a live victim rescue.
ABC News

Tuz and Bruno are two of the 49 specially-trained canines in the NYPD Emergency Service K-9 Team.

ABC News' Lucie Mccormick contributed to this report.