Beloved 'Cyber Dog' Retires From FBI In NJ After Lifetime Of Service

NEWARK, NJ — Jeff Calandra has spent more time with his dog in the last decade than he has with his own family. But that’s to be expected when you’re a seasoned special agent with the FBI, and your K-9 partner is one of the most in-demand law enforcement canines in the world.

The FBI-Newark office celebrated the retirement of “Iris the Cyber Dog” this week, sharing a video tribute to the lovable K-9, who recently underwent surgery to amputate one of her front legs.

For a long time, Iris was the only dog in the world trained in electronics detection, authorities noted. The 10-year-old canine has found nearly 20,000 pieces of evidence during her career with the FBI’s Newark office, averaging about 100 searches every year.

One of her first cases? Searching a now-convicted suspect’s home in New Jersey during the Chelsea bombing investigation in 2016.

Ironically, her discovery – a cell phone that the suspect allegedly used to test-detonate his bombs – was nearly mistaken for an urge to go potty.

“We had been working for a little bit in the house, but didn’t find much,” Calandra recalled. “I was in the backyard where the evidence response team had set up a tent. Iris was doing loops in the grass. I thought she had to go the bathroom – and thought great: she’s going to go right next to the ERT tent.”

“When I tugged her leash so I could take her for a walk, she resisted,” he remembered. “After a few times of that, I finally just let her go. She started digging, and digging, and digging. Then she sat.”

The cell phone that Iris found was eventually used as evidence at trial, Calandra noted.

This specialized olfactory expertise has led the talented pooch and her handler all over the country. One week, they might be called to assist with a serial killer investigation in Kentucky. After that, they might head to Ohio for a counterterrorism search – but then get an emergency call to fly to Seattle for a counterintelligence search.

She’s searched offices for the heads of other government agencies, ambassadors, appeared on national television. She’s been in tight spaces, behind walls, fallen through ceilings. She’s been electrocuted. She’s flown on the FBI’s G-5 jet. She’s taken rides in speed boats.

“It can be that crazy,” Calandra said.

While not on the clock, Iris lived with Calandra and his family. At first, it wasn’t the easiest situation, he admitted.

“I have always treated Iris like she’s a work asset,” the FBI agent explained. “So, I’m working with her 365 days a year.”

Calandra said he feeds Iris two cups of food a day by hand. “She only eats when she works – that’s why she’s so good at her job,” he said.

At home, the talented pooch gets to do simple tricks and commands to earn her meals: “normal dog stuff” like sitting, staying and offering her paw. However, that’s where the normal part ends, Calandra said.

“My family can’t feed her or reward her because then she won’t respond to my commands,” he said. “We also have to keep her away from electronics in our house – her brain wouldn’t shut off.”

There are also two other dogs that live in their home who are treated like “normal” pets. But Iris? She’s more like a third child, Calandra said.

“She comes on vacation with us,” he said. “She’s with me all the time. Under my seat on planes, with me in hotel rooms, in cars, in the office, in restaurants.”

“Iris is treated like an agent who lives in my house,” he quipped.

A few months ago, Calandra was out on a search when he noticed that Iris was limping. At first, he thought she was just tired from her grueling work schedule. A dose of anti-inflammatory medicine seemed to help at first. But when she started hobbling again, Calandra took his canine companion to the vet, coming away with a somber diagnosis: cancer.

Eventually, Iris underwent surgery to remove her front left leg in an attempt to stop the cancer from spreading. Her doctors say they got all the cancerous cells, but she is still going through a course of chemotherapy. In the meanwhile, the former K-9 has been fitted with a prosthetic leg and is learning how to maneuver on it.

Calandra said that now that Iris is retired, a few things have changed.

“She’s had pizza for the first time and gets to nap a lot more,” he said.

But she won’t eat from a dog bowl – she just doesn’t know how,” Calandra added.

“I gave her food in a bowl, and she just laid her head down next to it and stared at me,” he said. “So, we still hand-feed her.”

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