Photo gallery: Dogs in the midst of disaster

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Search-and-rescue canine Phedra takes a moment to rest her paws with handler Theresa Cawood. “One of the FEMA folks put it best. She said, ‘The Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) dogs are the PhDs of the dog world,'” says Janet Merrill, DVM, one of the five volunteer dog handlers for Massachusetts Urban Search and Rescue Task Force (MA-TF1).

All photos courtesy of Massachusetts Task Force

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“We targeted homes that were one story because the water was chest deep in some places. You could see water lines on many of the houses,” Merrill says.

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The highly trained search-and-rescue dogs went over, under and through spaces where humans simply couldn't go. Merrill says it takes very special dogs to do this kind of work-they have to be tremendous athletes but they also have to have tremendous courage.

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This car in Far Rockaway, N.Y., didn't stand a chance against the power of Superstorm Sandy.

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Merrill says the search-and-rescue canines ventured into dangerous, unstable areas that would be scary for most dogs-not to mention people.

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Superstorm Sandy tossed vehicles like toys on Staten Island.

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Search-and-rescue canine Peewee drinks some water with handler Jonathan Talin to stay hydrated for their next mission.

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Debris from the Superstorm filled this minivan in Broad Channel, N.Y.

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Search-and-rescue canine Koda takes a well-deserved rest during the team's Superstorm Sandy deployment.

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"Houses looked like fallen Pick-Up Sticks-that's the best way I can describe it," Merrill says.