On Wednesday, the CIA's official Twitter page took a break from the norm and told the story of Lulu, a bomb-sniffing dog in training. Lulu was a member of the Fall 2017 CIA K9 class, the first-ever all-female class. Lulu is a black lab, and she was the smallest in her class.
In a kind of somber "pupdate," the CIA told Lulu's story of how finding explosives just wasn't her vocation. But stay tuned! There's a happy ending.
Brace yourself for some cute puppy pics:
#CIAK9 Pupdate:
— CIA (@CIA) October 18, 2017
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
Aww
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
Honestly Lulu, I feel ya girl. That sounds like a stressful job.
All dogs, like humans, have good & bad days when learning something new.
— CIA (@CIA) October 18, 2017
Same for our pups, though it usually lasts just a day or two. pic.twitter.com/z9lQa2uKX4
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
"Doggy psychologist" sounds like a pretty sweet gig...
Lulu wasn’t interested in searching for explosives.
— CIA (@CIA) October 18, 2017
Even when motivated w food & play, she was clearly no longer enjoying herself. pic.twitter.com/puvhDk1tRX
Oh no! Poor Lulu.
Our trainers’ top concern is physical & mental well-being of K9s.
— CIA (@CIA) October 18, 2017
They made difficult decision & did what’s best for Lulu: stop her training pic.twitter.com/Ss9y9LpE9q
A tough choice, but Lulu needs to live her best life and clearly bomb-sniffing is just not her thing.
When a pup is removed or retires from our K9 program, the handler & their family is given the chance to adopt them & many do. pic.twitter.com/EMfua7zhbT
— CIA (@CIA) October 18, 2017
But fret not! She's currently enjoying her retirement and living with her handler and his kids. Instead of bombs, she's now sniffing out squirrels.
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
Sorry things didn't work out, Lulu! Enjoy your (hopefully) bomb-free retirement!
As for the rest of Lulu's classmates, they will graduate in November.