The most decorated dog in American history has passed away.
Hurricane, a Belgian Malinois, served as a Special Operations Canine for the Secret Service from 2012 to 2016, and played a key role in the protection of then-President Barack Obama.
Alongside his fellow Secret Service dog Jordan, Hurricane helped to swiftly apprehend an intruder who breached the perimeter of the White House in October 2014.
During the capture of the interloper, Hurricane sustained injuries that led to his retirement from service two years later. He lived out his remaining years with his handler and owner Marshall Mirachi, who would found Hurricane’s Heroes, a nonprofit that subsidizes veterinary care for retired law enforcement and military canines.
A February 12 post on Hurricane’s Instagram read, “Hurricane was not only a badass, amazing Secret Service dog and led to the amazing [organization] that does so much for the K9 community, Hurricane had this uncanny ability to read people. Even in his old age, he knew I was the decoy.
The guy to bite. And then he would sniff my wife and crawl into her lap for pets. Rest easy Hurricane. You were a damn good boy.”
Hurricane’s many awards for service included the USSS Award for Merit, the DHS Award for Valor, the PDSA Order of Merit, among others. He was also the first dog in history to earn the Animals in War and Peace Distinguished Service Medal in 2022.
He was 16 at the time of his death.