MADISON Wis. -- He's just 10 months old, and he has a long career ahead of him. But he nearly missed his chance to apply. A local rescue organization saved the golden retriever: now the saving is up to him.

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"He's the smartest dog we've ever had in this house. His senses are so keen. He knows about things that we or our other dogs are not aware of."

Toby's story began in a shelter. After two different owners saw they'd bit off more than they could chew, Golden Retriever Rescue of Wisconsin saw recognized Toby's potential.

Amy Lubeck said, "He wasn't soliciting attention from us like, pet me pet me, he was like, he wanted to have a job."

They rescued him into foster care where he began to prove to those that labeled him as "aggressive" that they were barking up the wrong tree.

Toby's foster dad Dave Miller said, "He's the smartest dog we've ever had in this house. His senses are so keen. He knows about things that we or our other dogs are not aware of."

Toby's foster mom Marcia Miller said, "He really has a photographic memory. We changed a photo on a bay window that's 6-7 feet up off the floor and he came in the next morning and growled at it."

Further exercises produced further amazement. Toby found his tennis ball in a deep brush pile and then in a simulated pile of rubble.

These videotaped activities got him accepted onto the elite National Disaster Search Team. It now seems that one rescue will lead to many more.

"It's incredible. One dog that we save can save so many lives, it's really, really neat," said Lubeck.

Toby leaves for California to begin training Friday. His training is paid for through a memorial fund established by a Wisconsin family that lost a daughter in the World Trade Center attacks on September 11.

When Toby begins his training, his name will be changed to Andy, in her honor.