Heroic K9s, the courageous handlers who care for them, and honoring their service is the subject of this week's Feel-Good Friday.
K9 Hurricane’s Heroes is a non-profit that provides retired law enforcement and military service animals with subsidized veterinary care. As all dog lovers knows, their most expensive years are often later in life, and even more so if they were injured in active duty. When a service dog retires, their handler now handles the cost of their daily care and medical bills, and for some that can be a burden, resulting in the K-9s not receiving the care they need and deserve.
The charity was founded in honor of Hurricane, who joined the United States Secret Service (USSS) Emergency Response Team Tactical Canine Unit in November of 2012. Hurricane met the moment when on October 22, 2014, he took down an intruder on the White House lawn.
Hurricane stopped an intruder on the White House lawn in 2014 -- sustaining injuries while fighting off a man named Dominic Adesanya. President Barack Obama and his family were inside at the time.
Hurricane suffered injuries in that attack, which led to his retirement two years later, after only four years of service. Hurricane was awarded the USSS Award for Merit, the DHS Award for Valor, the PDSA Order of Merit, and the AMC Top Dog in 2016. Hurricane is the first dog in history to receive the Animals in War and Peace Distinguished Service Medal (2022), which earned him a place in the Guinness Book of World Records.
Despite his injuries, Hurricane was able to train other service dogs throughout his retirement. He replicated his skills by training other dogs to use them. Hurricane passed on February 18 at the age of 15, and his handler Marshall Mirarchi gave him an incredible bucket list day before he crossed over the Rainbow Bridge.
The TMZ story (linked above) continues:
Hurricane -- the Secret Service dog that took down an intruder outside the White House in 2014 -- may be gone ... but, the Service honored his heroism one more time before he passed.
Marshall Mirarchi -- Hurricane's handler and close pal -- stopped by "TMZ Live" to talk about the heroic Belgian Malinois ... and, he got teary-eyed early remembering the dog he had for most of his adult life.
Marshall then lays out Hurricane's last day ... saying he took him back to Washington, D.C. so he could see his old workspace -- the White House -- one more time.
Mirarchi says the old team surprised him and Hurricane at the airport ... and, when they went to the White House, the Secret Service presented the man and his dog with a plaque in honor of Hurricane's years of service.
WATCH:
Hurricane and Mirarchi were profiled soon after he retired. Hurricane's fortitude and his bond with Mirarchi is beautiful to behold. Rest easy, goodest boy.
If you would like to donate to the charity, visit the K9 Hurricane's Heroes website.