CAPITOL TEAM:
Capitol Police Officer Timothy Cullen and K-9 partner, Guili (Julie), regularly patrol the U.S. Capitol building.

She was just an ordinary Chocolate Lab mix peering through her kennel cage, waiting for somebody to adopt her at Haven Humane Society. Few knew that she had the potential to become a very special mutt. It wasn’t until this pound hound was tested by Haven Humane Society volunteer Laura Rathe, who at the time was affiliated with the California Rescue Dog Association.

Guili’s success story and national notoriety all began shortly after America’s fateful day, Sept. 11, 2001. All of a sudden, Guili found herself singled out at the animal shelter by Rathe, whose personal search dogs are often called upon to find lost victims.

“Guili had the right stuff to be a great search dog and find victims of earthquakes, mudslides and collapsed buildings,” Rathe said. Because Guili was selected in the aftermath of 9/11, she was named after Rudy Guiliani, then Mayor of New York City. Guili was whisked off to the National Disaster Search & Rescue Foundation for special training. She passed with flying colors. Today, Guili is still on the job working with the Capitol Police patrolling the U.S. Capitol and other buildings in Washington, D.C.

Sometime in 2002, Mayor Guiliani received a portrait of Guili from the owners of the talented canine, Rathe said.

Haven’s staff and board members are proud of ordinary shelter dogs like Guili that go on to be of great service or to just be somebody’s best friend. In Haven’s eyes, all of their rescued animals matter.

Editor’s Note: A Valley Post editorial columnist and former reporter, Virginia Reeter is Director of Development and Community Affairs at Haven Humane Society.