BATON ROUGE, La. (TNND) — Chloe, a rescue dog once on a euthanasia list in New Mexico, has become the first rescue dog to graduate from the U.S. Border Patrol Canine Academy as a critical incident response K-9, the agency announced.
Dog once on euthanasia list becomes first to graduate Border Patrol’s support K-9 program (Photo: U.S. Border Patrol)
“Chloe’s story reflects the very best of service, resilience, and compassion,” Adam Calderon, who is the acting chief patrol agent of the U.S. Border Patrol New Orleans Sector, said in a news release on Wednesday.”Chloe represents the power of second chances,” Calderon added.
Chloe was taken in by a high-kill shelter on January 29, the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) said. Days later, she was placed on the euthanasia list.
The agency said the Animal Rescue League of El Paso in Texas took Chloe from the shelter on February 10, as founder Loretta Hyde recognized the dog’s potential. Then, Chloe was selected for the CBP canine program.
From left, Border Patrol Agent Miguel Carrillo, Lety Medrano, and Loretta Hyde of the Animal Rescue League of El Paso at Chloe’s swearing in ceremony, Border Patrol Canine Academy, in El Paso, Texas. (Photo: U.S. Border Patrol)
Chloe went on to complete a five-week course at the Border Patrol Canine Academy in El Paso on May 15. The training included obedience, crisis-response instruction, and deployment preparation for dogs and handlers.
She was sworn in later that day and assigned to Border Patrol Agent Miguel Carrillo in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Unlike dogs trained to detect drugs or track suspects, Chloe was trained to comfort agents, employees, and family members during grief and stressful events. The program was established after the 2022 mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, where 21 people — including multiple children — were killed.
Since graduating, Chloe and Carrillo have deployed across the Gulf Coast to assist CBP employees, families, and partner public safety agencies. They also attended services for Deputy U.S. Marshal Drew Hanson, who was shot and killed while serving an arrest warrant in Louisiana this July.
Carrillo said Chloe’s work is already making a meaningful difference for people in need.
“Chloe’s journey is a powerful reminder that with patience, purpose and a second chance, extraordinary things are possible,” Carrillo said.