Deaf Rescue Dogo Argentino Axel to Deploy with Michigan National Guard Unit Axel, a deaf Dogo Argentino, has been trained with sign language and hand signals to serve as the ministry dog for the Michigan National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 125th Infantry Regiment as they prepare to deploy. A deaf Dogo Argentino named Axel, surrendered to a shelter as a puppy, is now geared up in military fatigues and preparing to deploy with the Michigan National Guard's 1st Battalion, 125th Infantry Regiment. The three-year-old serves as the battalion's official ministry dog alongside his handler, Sergeant Mollie Karazim, a religious affairs specialist. Unable to hear standard verbal commands, Axel was trained with a custom system of visual cues, hand signals, and American Sign Language, mastering over 50 individual commands. Sergeant Karazim joined the Guard seven years ago hoping to become a canine handler before learning the specialty was not available in Michigan, and she personally financed much of Axel's specialized training.Outfitted in his own working vest and collar, Axel regularly rides in Humvees, trains in the field, and acts as a crucial icebreaker during counseling sessions for hundreds of infantry soldiers as the unit prepares to ship out. Karazim said training a deaf dog is very different from training a dog who can hear. She said Axel has to trust her, and they have built that trust since he was a puppy.Axel is loyal, loving, and made for an active lifestyle, so Karazim thought he would be a good fit for the infantry. She explained that when she first adopted him, she began training him but with the understanding that she would have to wait and see if he would integrate well with the unit when he grew up.Karazim began by bringing Axel along to the Guard's weekend drill activities. National Guard officials said Axel eventually became a regular part of the 125th Infantry Regiment's routine. He joined Humvee rides and field operations, where he interacted with soldiers across the battalion. Karazim said he did great, and her command team has been outstanding about having Axel in the unit and seeing the value of him.Axel wears a specialized vest and collar that signals he is on duty. When he sees those, Karazim explained, he knows he is going to drill.Axel is now preparing for deployment with the unit. This required countless additional hours of training for the deaf Molosser. Michigan National Guard officials said that as the 1st Battalion, 125th Infantry Regiment prepares for its next mission, Axel will be right there with the unit, ready to work, support his soldiers, and put his best paw forward.The Dogo Argentino is a powerful, athletic big-game hunting breed within the Molosser family. It is renowned for its imposing strength, boundless endurance, and striking all-white short coat. Originally developed in Argentina to hunt wild boar and cougars, the breed is fiercely courageous and tenacious in the field.The Dogo is equally celebrated for its calm temperament, intense loyalty, and affectionate devotion to its human family. Those traits are on display in Axel, who has moved from a shelter puppy to a working member of an infantry battalion preparing to ship out. His presence supports soldiers in counseling sessions and field operations alike.Axel's story highlights how a dog once surrendered to a shelter can find a new mission through patience, trust, and specialized training. For Karazim, the journey has meant years of building a bond with a dog that cannot hear her voice but reads her signals. For the soldiers of the 125th Infantry Regiment, Axel has become a familiar and welcome part of the unit's daily life.As the battalion gets ready for its next mission, Axel will deploy alongside the soldiers he has trained with. Officials said he will be ready to work, support his soldiers, and put his best paw forward. His specialized vest and collar will mark him as on duty, and his handler will continue to guide him through the visual commands they have practiced since he was a puppy.