Dogs train to save survivors from earthquake rubble

SAN FRANCISCO (KTVU) - Members of the US Marine Corp were at the San Francisco Fire Department's training facility on Treasure Island on Wednesday morning.

They were working with the department's rescue dog team conducting exercises.

The department has four dogs. One of the handlers told KTVU "What these dogs do is they search collapsed buildings and they alert rescuers to the location and the presence of survivors waiting to be rescued."

KTVU's Alex Savidge got a firsthand look at what the dogs can do. Alex hid under rubble as "Vida" went to look for him. Vida ran around the debris where she located Alex. She then barked to alert other rescuers and dug Alex out of the rubble. (Watch in the video box above). 

As a reward Vida was offered a piece of a rubber fire hose to use as a chew toy. 

The training is part of Fleet Week.