The CIA. It’s not for everyone. The high-stress lifestyle of a CIA operative requires you to have the heart of a warrior, the mind of a genius and the spine of a rhinoceros.
Not being cut out for the job is no failure—it simply means you have strengths in other areas like, say, naps, treats and playtime. That’s the case for a black lab named Lulu anyway, who was recruited into one of the toughest jobs in the dog industry and, as fate would have it, was given an early retirement because her interests lie in other areas, as the CIA explained in a Twitter thread.
#CIAK9 Pupdate:
Sometimes, even after testing, our pups make it clear being an explosive detection K9 isn’t for themhttps://t.co/nPZl6YWNKb pic.twitter.com/07TXRCH7bp— CIA (@CIA) October 18, 2017
We’re sad to announce that a few weeks into training, Lulu began to show signs that she wasn’t interested in detecting explosive odors. pic.twitter.com/c6lxHPfC09
— CIA (@CIA) October 18, 2017
All dogs, like humans, have good & bad days when learning something new.
Same for our pups, though it usually lasts just a day or two. pic.twitter.com/z9lQa2uKX4— CIA (@CIA) October 18, 2017
There are a million reasons why a dog has a bad day & our trainers must become doggy psychologists to figure out what will help pups. pic.twitter.com/iaeRpGiSUR
— CIA (@CIA) October 18, 2017
Sometimes a pup is bored & needs extra playtime, sometimes they need a little break, or it’s a minor medical condition like a food allergy. pic.twitter.com/pPaBPohhqB
— CIA (@CIA) October 18, 2017
For some dogs, after weeks of working w them, it’s clear the issue isn’t temporary & instead, this just isn’t the job they are meant for. pic.twitter.com/bBjPz8Ng2U
— CIA (@CIA) October 18, 2017
Lulu wasn’t interested in searching for explosives.
Even when motivated w food & play, she was clearly no longer enjoying herself. pic.twitter.com/puvhDk1tRX— CIA (@CIA) October 18, 2017
Our trainers’ top concern is physical & mental well-being of K9s.
They made difficult decision & did what’s best for Lulu: stop her training pic.twitter.com/Ss9y9LpE9q— CIA (@CIA) October 18, 2017
So what now? Well, when a CIA operative is retired, as we all know, their memories are wiped and they are cut loose from the organization, until they start remembering what they went through at Treadstone and then embark on a mission of vengeance to get back at the suits who did this to them. The case is a little different for dogs.
Lulu was adopted by her handler & now enjoys her days playing w his kids & a new friend, & sniffing out rabbits & squirrels in the backyard. pic.twitter.com/WOImM75P1D
— CIA (@CIA) October 18, 2017
We’ll miss Lulu, but it was right decision for her & we wish her all the best in her new life!https://t.co/nPZl6YWNKb pic.twitter.com/Mbcr9C7wUY
— CIA (@CIA) October 18, 2017
Awww, everyone wins. Except for the CIA, who is now down one very adorable operative. But Lulu wins, and that means we all sort of win. Enjoy your retirement, Lulu.
