A dog once surrendered to a shelter as a puppy is now preparing for a journey far beyond anything his early life seemed to promise. Axel, a three-year-old Dogo Argentino born deaf, has gone from learning how to navigate the world without hearing to becoming a familiar and trusted presence among soldiers of the Michigan National Guard.

His communication system is unlike the one used with most dogs. Through visual cues and hand signals, including several based on American Sign Language, Axel has learned more than 50 commands. Now, after months of training, unit integration and preparation, he is set to deploy alongside the 1st Battalion, 125th Infantry Regiment as a ministry dog with Sgt. Mollie Karazim.

Axel’s Journey Started With Being Surrendered As A Puppy

Axel’s story began with a difficult start. His previous owners surrendered him to a shelter after discovering that he was born deaf.

That could have been the end of his connection with people. Instead, Axel was adopted by Sgt. Mollie Karazim, a religious affairs specialist with the Michigan National Guard who saw potential in the young Dogo Argentino.

Training him, however, meant changing the usual rules.

Axel could not respond to spoken commands, so Karazim developed a communication system built around visual cues and hand signals. Some of those signals are based on American Sign Language.

What started as training at home eventually became something much bigger. Axel learned more than 50 commands while Karazim worked to build not only his skills but also the trust needed for them to communicate effectively.

Karazim explained just how different that process was:

“It (training a deaf dog) is very different from a dog who can hear,” Karazim said. “He has to trust me, and we have built that trust from a puppy.”

Axel’s deafness therefore became a central consideration in his training, but it did not prevent him from learning, working or becoming part of the lives of the soldiers around him.

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Sgt. Mollie Karazim Once Wanted To Be A Canine Handler

There is an almost full-circle quality to Axel’s eventual role.

When Karazim joined the National Guard seven years ago, she originally wanted to become a canine handler. But she discovered that the position was not available in Michigan.

That sent her in another direction.

“When I joined the National Guard, I originally wanted to be a canine handler, but then I learned that was not a role available in Michigan,” Karazim said. “As I explored different options, religious affairs specialist seemed like the next best fit.”

Karazim has spent more than three years with the 1st Battalion, 125th Infantry Regiment, working alongside chaplains to support soldiers throughout the formation.

Her work as a religious affairs specialist and her interest in working with dogs eventually came together through Axel.

Rather than becoming a traditional military working dog, Axel developed a very different role — one focused on ministry and connection.

Why Axel Was Introduced To The Infantry Unit

Karazim had already begun thinking about Axel’s future when she adopted him.

She believed his personality could potentially fit the environment surrounding infantry soldiers. Axel was strong, active and loyal, qualities Karazim felt could make him comfortable around the unit and its demanding routine.

“Axel is loyal, loving and made for an active lifestyle, so I thought he would be a good fit for the infantry. When I first adopted him, I began training him but with the understanding that I would have to wait and see if he would integrate well with the unit when he grew up,” Karazim said.

She did not simply bring Axel into military activities and assume everything would work.

Instead, his introduction happened gradually.

Over the past year, Axel became increasingly familiar with the 125th Infantry Regiment’s routine. He attended drill weekends, rode in Humvees, spent time in the field and interacted with soldiers throughout the battalion.

Karazim said the gradual approach helped reveal how naturally Axel could fit into the environment.

“I would slowly bring him to unit events to see how he would respond,” Karazim said. “He did great. My command team has been outstanding about having Axel in the unit and seeing the value of him.”

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Axel’s Working Vest And Collar Became Part Of His Routine

Even Axel’s equipment has a purpose beyond appearance.

The dog wears a special vest and collar specifically for his ministry duties. The items serve as visual signals that tell him when he is working, helping distinguish his working routine from his everyday life.

Karazim described the association Axel has developed with the equipment:

“He has a vest that he only wears when he is working,” Karazim said. “He also has a special collar that he only wears when he is working. When he sees those, he knows he is going to drill.”

That routine also helped demonstrate that Axel could operate around soldiers without disrupting military activities.

There were understandably practical questions about whether a dog could function in the field alongside an infantry unit.

Karazim recalled the question directly:

“Their question was, ‘What are you going to do? Will he be able to be in the field?’” Karazim said. “I said, ‘Yes, of course. What else?’”

Axel Became An Icebreaker For Soldiers

Axel’s job with the Michigan National Guard is not to patrol, guard military facilities or perform conventional military working-dog duties.

His role is as a ministry dog, working alongside Karazim as she supports soldiers through her responsibilities as a religious affairs specialist.

Karazim works with hundreds of soldiers from multiple companies, including through counseling and other ministry engagements. Axel has become an unexpected way for her to make those connections.

Sometimes, the presence of a dog can simply make an interaction easier to begin.

For Karazim, that has become an important part of Axel’s value to the unit.

“Having Axel in the infantry has been a huge benefit,” Karazim said. “He is an icebreaker, and he has helped me connect with Soldiers I otherwise would not have connected with.”

That makes Axel more than an animal accompanying his handler. He has become part of how Karazim interacts with soldiers throughout the battalion.

His presence can make conversations more comfortable, particularly when Karazim is meeting soldiers she otherwise might not have had an opportunity to connect with.

Preparing Axel For Deployment Meant More Training

Becoming part of the unit was one stage of Axel’s journey. Preparing him to deploy with it required another.

According to the National Guard, Axel underwent countless additional hours of training and specialized courses. At the same time, Karazim continued adapting the way she communicated with him.

The preparation was also a personal financial commitment. The National Guard noted that much of the investment in Axel’s training and care was personally covered by Karazim.

The objective was straightforward: make sure Axel could continue performing his ministry role while accompanying the battalion on its mission.

For Karazim, the effort has already been deeply meaningful.

“This whole experience has been incredibly rewarding,” Karazim said. “Axel has been a great asset to the ministry and has helped make everyone light up.”

Axel’s Role At A Glance

Detail	Verified information
Name	Axel
Age	Three years old
Breed	Dogo Argentino
Hearing	Born deaf
Training	More than 50 commands
Communication	Visual cues and hand signals
Sign-language element	Several commands are based on American Sign Language
Handler	Sgt. Mollie Karazim
Handler’s role	Religious affairs specialist, Michigan National Guard
Unit	1st Battalion, 125th Infantry Regiment
Military role	Ministry dog
Unit activities	Drill weekends, Humvee rides, field activities and interaction with soldiers
Working equipment	Special vest and collar
Deployment	Preparing to deploy alongside the 1st Battalion, 125th Infantry Regiment

Axel Is Now Preparing To Deploy With The Michigan National Guard

After starting life as a deaf puppy who was surrendered to a shelter, Axel is now preparing to leave with the soldiers he has spent the past year getting to know.

He will deploy with Karazim and continue serving as the battalion’s ministry dog throughout the mission.

The National Guard says Axel will continue supporting soldiers in the same capacity he has developed at home, relying on the communication system and trust he has built with Karazim.

His story is unusual not because he has suddenly become a conventional military working dog, but because he has found a completely different way to serve alongside the people around him.

His more than 50 visual commands, specialized working equipment and gradual exposure to military life have all been part of that process.

For Karazim, Axel’s deployment also brings together two interests that once appeared to belong on separate paths. She wanted to work with dogs when she joined the National Guard, eventually became a religious affairs specialist, and has now found a way to combine that work with her relationship with Axel.

The dog who once faced life after being surrendered as a deaf puppy is now a familiar face within the 125th Infantry Regiment.

And as the battalion prepares for its mission, Axel will be going with them — carrying his specialized training, visual commands and, perhaps most importantly, the trust he and Karazim have built since he was a puppy.

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Conclusion

Axel’s journey from a surrendered shelter puppy to a ministry dog preparing to deploy with the Michigan National Guard has been built step by step. His deafness required Karazim to create a different way of communicating, leading to more than 50 visual commands and hand signals, including several based on American Sign Language.

After becoming integrated into the 1st Battalion, 125th Infantry Regiment through drill weekends, field activities and time with soldiers, Axel developed a role centered on supporting ministry work and helping Karazim connect with soldiers. Now, with additional training and preparation behind him, he is set to deploy alongside the unit he has gradually come to know.

Source Disclaimer

This article has been prepared based on thorough research of the sources provided below and the verified information supplied for this story. It reflects the information available from those sources and does not imply independent verification beyond what the provided material supports. Axel’s role is that of a ministry dog supporting soldiers alongside Sgt. Mollie Karazim. The Michigan National Guard’s official account does not describe him as a conventional military working dog, and this article does not characterize his role beyond the duties officially described by the Guard.

Sources:

• U.S. National Guard – Deaf Ministry Dog to Deploy With Michigan Guard Handler
• U.S. Army – Deaf ministry dog prepares to deploy with the Michigan Guard
• DVIDS – 125th Infantry Regiment’s Ministry Dog
• National Guard – Last Week archive

Featured Image Credit: U.S. Army / DVIDS