Canine "Heroes" Get Help With Medical Care

There is no such thing as Medicaid, Medicare or Social Security benefits for police or military dogs after they retire from their important jobs of protecting the community.

But as with people hitting retirement age, the dogs often need expensive medical care to keep them healthy in their later years.

Usually, their medical bills would be the responsibility of the dogs’ owners, but a nonprofit group, called Hurricane’s Heroes, helps out with expenses by providing subsidized veterinary care for retired law enforcement and military canines.

During a ceremony Saturday in Sea Isle City, Hurricane’s Heroes presented a ceremonial $300,000 check to its nonprofit partner organization, Paws of Honor, to support the medical needs of 167 retired police and military dogs across the country. The money was collected from a nationwide fundraising campaign.

Marshall Mirarchi, who serves as president of Hurricane’s Heroes and founded the organization with his wife, Lisa, said the nonprofit has raised more than $1 million for canine medical care since its inception in 2019.

    VFW Post 1963 Commander Joe McLenaghan, in white cap, shakes hands with Hurricane's Heroes President Marshall Mirarchi while making a donation to the organization.
  

Each year, Hurricane’s Heroes holds a fundraising event in Sea Isle City at the headquarters of VFW Post 1963. The check presentation ceremony Saturday included donations of $500 each from the VFW and Post 1963’s Auxiliary to Hurricane’s Heroes.

“You are invited back here next year. Just let us know the date and we’ll be here,” VFW Commander Joe McLenaghan assured Mirarchi.

While thanking the VFW and its Auxiliary, Mirarchi said the fundraising event would help to honor the retired police and military dogs and preserve their “legacy.”

U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew, who represents the Second Congressional District that includes Cape May County, said that the efforts of Hurricane’s Heroes show that the dogs are going to be “safe and sound and loved.”

Van Drew praised the members of law enforcement agencies across the country and the branches of the military for their sacrifices and dedication to public safety

“Wherever it is, they are willing to put their life on the line to make sure that we’re safe,” he said.

    Hurricane, the late Secret Service dog, inspired the founding of Hurricane's Heroes. (Credit: Getty Images)
  

The name Hurricane’s Heroes was inspired by Mirarchi’s late Belgian Malinois , Hurricane, a Secret Service canine who became famous after subduing a man who jumped the fence at the White House in 2014 and trespassed on the grounds. 

Mirarchi was Hurricane’s handler when Mirarchi was a Secret Service agent. Mirarchi is now retired from the Secret Service.

Hurricane was medically retired from service in 2016 after sustaining injuries during the White House incident. The trespasser attacked Hurricane and seriously injured him while the dog fought to subdue the man.

Hurricane died last February at the age of 15. Dr. Matt Brunke, a veterinarian and board member of Paws of Honor, said that dogs are living longer now because of advances in their medical care.

“Twenty years ago, police dogs didn’t usually live to be 10 years old – maybe eight or nine years. Now, they’re usually living from 11 to 13 years.” Brunke said.

    Sea Isle City police officers bring donations of dog food and biscuits to the ceremony.
  

Expensive medical treatments can often accompany the dogs’ longer lives, Brunke explained.

“The costs go up to maintain these dogs,” he said, noting that he knew of one dog that required $20,000 in chemotherapy and surgery to treat cancer.

Paws of Honor and Hurricane’s Heroes work together to help the owners of retired police or military dogs pay for their medical care.

One of the retired dogs on hand during the check presentation ceremony was Argos, a 9-year-old German shepherd who served as an explosives detection and patrol K9 for the Hamilton Township Police Department in Atlantic County.

Cory Silvio, Argos’ handler, noted that Argos enjoys his retirement years goofing around and serving as an informal therapy dog.

“He’s a big goofball,” Silvio said of Argos while he was chewing on a play bone. “The best description of him is a big oaf.”

    Cory Silvio gets in some play time with Argos, a retired K9 with the Hamilton Township Police Department in Atlantic County.
  

Despite being 9 years old, Argos is an energetic dog that needs plenty of exercise and activities.

However, Argos has sciatica, a spinal condition that is common among retired police and military dogs. Argos’ treatment includes pain-relieving cortisone injections that are free for Silvio because of the subsidized veterinary care provided by Hurricane’s Heroes.

For more information on Hurricane’s Heroes or to make a donation, visit https://www.k9hurricanesheroes.org/.