Latest news with #Mirarchi
Yahoo
08-03-2025
- Yahoo
American K9 hero dies, legacy lives on
(COLORADO SPRINGS) — We are Southern Colorado, and last month, we said goodbye to the most decorated K9 in our government's history, K9 Hurricane. Although the American hero has died, his heroic acts aren't done yet. His legacy lives on through retired police and military dogs like K9 Broc. 'These dogs are heroes. High-performance athletes that were heroes,' said Southern Colorado Officer Brian Kelly, who worked with and takes care of Broc. Officer Kelly and K9 Broc have found lots of criminals and narcotics in the Pikes Peak Region. 'He's in retirement now. So obviously, he takes advantage of the liberties that are afforded to him, where he can just… be a dog,' said Officer Kelly. However, retirement for hardworking dogs like Broc often comes with an unfortunate reality. 'They do just a lot of things that are hard on their body. So after they retire, we incur all the costs,' said Officer Kelly. Hurricane's retirement came shortly after being rushed to the ER, all because he put his life on the line to stop an intruder at the White House. 'He got picked up all the way (to) head level, six foot, slammed on the ground, punched, kicked. He got beat pretty bad, but he never, never gave up. I watched something with a heartbeat willing to die for me, and that that's the most special moment of my life,' said Marshall Mirarchi, Former Secret Service Special Operations K9 Handler. Caring for Hurricane in retirement could've been very expensive for Mirarchi, but with the national attention, charities stepped in to cover his veterinary costs. 'I got this overwhelming feeling of guilt that, I can't have this special care and treatment and community for my dog, when all his brothers and sisters out there working don't have the same thing,' said Mirarchi. That's when the non-profit Hurricane's Heroes was born. It provides medical coverage to retired law enforcement and military dogs since the government does not. Mirarchi is headed back to D.C. next week to advocate for a bill that would establish a grant program to help retired federal working dogs get the medical care they need. 'A lot of times when these dogs retire, they're beat up. They've been through a lot. They don't make it too long,' said Mirarchi. 'So we try to step in and make sure that the dogs get as many years as they can possibly get because those moments are so special.' They've raised almost a million dollars since 2019. If you'd like to donate to Hurricane's Heroes, you can pick up his treats at Pet Pantry, and profits will go toward his nonprofit. You can also click here. Since laying Hurricane to rest, the non-profit has a new sense of purpose to serve the heroes on their wait list. 'That was the last thing I said to him before he passed away, that, 'you know, you served your purpose, your job is completed… We're going to all carry on your legacy and your mission,'' said Mirarchi. 'If they could talk, they would be like, 'Take care of all the other dogs. Keep doing that.' So I know that's what he would want.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- Yahoo
White House protector and most decorated K-9 in US history dies: 'a very good boy'
The most decorated K-9 in U.S. history has died. Hurricane, a 15-year-old Belgian Malinois, died Tuesday after more than a decade in the Secret Service. "Hurricane was a true American hero," the White House X account posted Wednesday. "The most decorated K-9 in U.S. history, he bravely defended the White House and spent retirement helping other working dogs through @Hurricane_K9. His legacy of courage and loyalty will live on. Rest easy, Hurricane." Hurricane gained national prominence back in 2014, when he heroically wrestled an intruder to the ground after the man breached the White House gate. The intruder, Dominic Adesanya, scaled the White House fence and landed on the North Lawn back in October 2014 during the Obama administration. The intruder, who later pleaded guilty to trespassing, was first met by a Secret Service dog named Jordan, before Hurricane jumped into action and subdued the intruder. Veterans With Ptsd Get 'Significant' Benefits From Service Dogs, First Nih-funded Study Finds Read On The Fox News App Former President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama were just yards away from the incident, watching a movie in the White House theater, according to The New York Times. "He beat Hurricane really bad," Hurricane's handler, Marshall Mirarchi, said Tuesday of the incident that left the K-9 with swollen legs and injured hips, according to Times. "But Hurricane did not give up." Ex-secret Service Dog Credited With Saving Obama From White House Intruder To Receive British Award Hurricane was born in 2009 and served as a special operations canine in the Secret Service from 2012 to 2016. He received the Award for Meritorious Service from the Secret Service in 2014 for his bravery, as well as the Secretary's Award for Valor from the Department of Homeland Security in 2015. He also received the Distinguished Service Medal in 2022, according to the Secret Service. "On every shift of every day, we at the Secret Service strive to uphold five core values; Duty, Honor, Loyalty, Justice, and Courage," Uniformed Division Assistant Chief Michael Buck said in 2022 during the Distinguished Service Medal ceremony. "They are the five points of our agency's star, and on a dark night in October 2014, they were embodied by a very good boy named Hurricane." Utah Sheriff's Office Mourns Death Of 'Porn-sniffing Dog' That Helped Put Pedophiles Behind Bars Hurricane visited the White House one last time before his death this week and was able to say goodbye to his former team, Mirarchi told the Times. Hurricane retired in 2016 following the injuries he sustained during the attack and was adopted by Mirarchi. "What made Hurricane so special was that he could be so ferocious and brave, yet be so loving and kind at the same time," Mirarchi told the Times. "He could be biting and doing apprehension all day long, and when he comes home, he was this loving, caring, kind soul."Original article source: White House protector and most decorated K-9 in US history dies: 'a very good boy'
Fox News
21-02-2025
- Fox News
White House protector and most decorated K-9 in US history dies: 'a very good boy'
The most decorated K-9 in U.S. history has died. Hurricane, a 15-year-old Belgian Malinois, died Tuesday after more than a decade in the Secret Service. "Hurricane was a true American hero," the White House X account posted Wednesday. "The most decorated K-9 in U.S. history, he bravely defended the White House and spent retirement helping other working dogs through @Hurricane_K9. His legacy of courage and loyalty will live on. Rest easy, Hurricane." Hurricane gained national prominence back in 2014, when he heroically wrestled an intruder to the ground after the man breached the White House gate. The intruder, Dominic Adesanya, scaled the White House fence and landed on the North Lawn back in October 2014 during the Obama administration. The intruder, who later pleaded guilty to trespassing, was first met by a Secret Service dog named Jordan, before Hurricane jumped into action and subdued the intruder. Former President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama were just yards away from the incident, watching a movie in the White House theater, according to The New York Times. "He beat Hurricane really bad," Hurricane's handler, Marshall Mirarchi, said Tuesday of the incident that left the K-9 with swollen legs and injured hips, according to Times. "But Hurricane did not give up." Hurricane was born in 2009 and served as a special operations canine in the Secret Service from 2012 to 2016. He received the Award for Meritorious Service from the Secret Service in 2014 for his bravery, as well as the Secretary's Award for Valor from the Department of Homeland Security in 2015. He also received the Distinguished Service Medal in 2022, according to the Secret Service. "On every shift of every day, we at the Secret Service strive to uphold five core values; Duty, Honor, Loyalty, Justice, and Courage," Uniformed Division Assistant Chief Michael Buck said in 2022 during the Distinguished Service Medal ceremony. "They are the five points of our agency's star, and on a dark night in October 2014, they were embodied by a very good boy named Hurricane." Hurricane visited the White House one last time before his death this week and was able to say goodbye to his former team, Mirarchi told the Times. Hurricane retired in 2016 following the injuries he sustained during the attack and was adopted by Mirarchi. "What made Hurricane so special was that he could be so ferocious and brave, yet be so loving and kind at the same time," Mirarchi told the Times. "He could be biting and doing apprehension all day long, and when he comes home, he was this loving, caring, kind soul."
