Legendary Service Dog Who Once Took Down White House Intruder Dies At 15

America’s most decorated canine has passed on, the White House announced Wednesday.

“Hurricane was a true American hero. 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,” the announcement reads. “His legacy of courage and loyalty will live on. Rest easy, Hurricane.”

The Belgian Malinois, a retired Secret Service’s Special Operations canine, died Feb. 12, aged 15 in Alexandria, Virginia, his longtime handler, Marshall Mirarchi, told The New York Times (NYT).

Hurricane was famous for tackling Dominic Adesanya, 23, of Bel Air, Maryland, who illegally gained access into the White House grounds late Oct. 22, 2014. The intruder was able to get within 100 yards of then-President Barack Obama and then-first lady Michelle Obama as they both watched a movie in the White House theater, the NYT reported.

Hurricane was already up the moment the intruder gained entry into the North Lawn of the White House near Lafayette Park, Mirarchi, a former uniformed division officer and technician with the Secret Service, told the Secret Service’s official podcast, Standing Post, in 2022.

“I didn’t do anything but let him go and trust his instincts,” Mirarchi said.

A colleague of Mirarchi’s let his dog loose after Adesanya but the intruder kicked the canine — a kick that Mirarchi said prompted him to sic an already bristling Hurricane on the intruder.

“A fight ensued — which is the hard part to talk about because it’s like watching your kid get roughed up,” Mirarchi told Standing Post.

Hurricane was able to get the intruder to the point where Mirarchi and other agents arrested him.

“But when [Hurricane] got back, he was beat up pretty bad. He had cuts and bruises all over him,” Mirarchi said.

Hurricane suffered swollen legs and damaged hips, while the other dog — which the NYT identified as another Belgian Malinois named Jordan — had been kicked in the snout. (RELATED: Video Of A Police Dog Visiting His Wounded Partner In The Hospital Is The Best Thing You’ll See Today)

Both Hurricane and Jordan were taken to the emergency room a few blocks away from the White House, Mirarchi told Standing Post. Hurricane was playing with the emergency responders as they massaged him to check his injuries — which Mirarchi said he took as a sign that the canine was all right.

Mirarchi said he rewarded Hurricane with McDonald’s, although Secret Service K9s are not usually given food meant for humans.

“He wolfed down some cheeseburgers and then passed out,” Mirarchi told Standing Post, laughing.

More rewards came along, starting with an award from then-Secret Service Director Joseph P. Clancy the next day.

Hurricane and Mirarchi shared the Secretary’s Award for Valor by the Department of Homeland Security on Nov. 3, 2015. Hurricane received the Distinguished Service Medal in 2022 and recognition abroad. He reportedly retired in 2016.

The only all-black Belgian Malinois in the Secret Service ranks when he joined, Hurricane was already fully trained overseas and his peculiar characteristics drew Mirarchi to him.

Mirarchi told Standing Post that he was always enthusiastic about any opportunity he had to speak about Hurricane.

Hurricane visited the White House for the last time on the day of his death and shared a photograph with his old Secret Service colleagues, according to the NYT. They all then went back to Hurricane’s house in the D.C. suburbs.

“His whole team came to say goodbye,” Mirarchi told the NYT. “We put him down together.”