So many soldiers use dogs to assist them while on duty and they loyally protect those who serve to protect us. It’s not surprising that these soldiers build such a strong bond with their four-legged friends.
So many of these dogs work in front of the front lines, detecting explosives along the paths about to be trodden by soldiers.
When Sergeant Jason Bos retired from duty in 2012 he was separated from his K9 partner Cila who remained with the army. He was heartbroken.
But then news reached him that his beloved dog had also retired and set about trying to get her back. With the help of some special friends an incredible reunion was arranged.
Sergeant Bos spent five years side-by-side in Iraq with Cila.
They were together through 100 missions which included working with the secret service and detecting roadside bombs.Unfortunately Sgt. Bos was separated from his beloved chocolate Labrador when he retired from the army due to a back injury.
Two years passed and he really missed his four-legged friend. But then the good news reached him that Cila was also to retire from the army and was free to find a new loving home.
Couch potato life
So, with the help of the American Humane Association and Mission K9 Rescue, Cila was flown all the way from Germany to Chicago to reunite with Sgt. Bos at O’Hare International Airport.
In a tear-jerking reunion, Cila goes crazy when she hears Sgt. Bos’ voice, she’s so happy. Sgt. Bos said Cila was going to be living the couch potato life at his Michigan home.
Watch their amazing reunion in the video below and have your tissues at the ready.
These two deserve all the happiness after the sacrifices they have made on the front line. So glad there are organizations that can help reunite them.
Please share this heartwarming story with your friends and family.
Soldier devastated after separated from dog who helped keep him alive, then a meeting is arranged which makes him feel whole again
At this time of year we are particularly conscious of the soldiers who are stationed around the world, risking their lives to keep us safe. A lot of them won’t be spending Christmas with their families.
But what many of us don’t know is the number of military dogs who work alongside our soldiers risking their lives to keep their companions safe.
Matthew Kropp knows all about the value of military dogs after working alongside his faithful four-legged friend Tina for three years while stationed in Iraq.
But in December 2017 Matthew received the devastating news that his sweet Tina was too old to serve and had to be retired. He never thought he’d see his beloved companion again.
Matthew spent years in Iraq working to protect the United States embassy and with Tina by his side they prevented explosives from entering the embassy.
Matthew credits the beloved German Shepherd for keeping him alive during his time in Iraq.
“Without her I wouldn’t be able to live,” he says.
Matthew eventually returned home to the U.S. and was reunited with his wife and children. But he didn’t feel complete without his trusted companion.
That’s where K9 Hero Haven comes in. This organization works hard to find loving homes for retired military dogs and since 2015 has adopted 200 military dogs.
Anne Gibbs, who runs K9 Hero Haven, and recognizes the sacrifice these dogs make for their country, was able to arrange a special reunion for Tina and Matthew.
It’s clear from the video below how excited Matthew is to see Tina again.
See these two enjoy an exciting reunion in the video below.
Matthew had to return to Iraq but Tina stayed home with his wife and children enjoying a well earned rest.
Please share to pay tribute to all the military dogs who deserve a loving, forever home when they retire.
Watch the Exact Moment Dog Realizes He’s Never Going Back to the Shelter
The moment a rescue dog realized he had found his forever home, with a yard and two boys to play with, has been captured on camera.
Megan Wyrick, a dog trainer who specializes in behavior modification, took to TikTok, posting under the handle @megan_offroad, to share footage of the moment her new rescue dog, Echo, realized he wasn’t going back to the shelter.
Wyrick’s husband works for the coast guard, flying C-130 airplanes. Last summer, the family moved to Akhiok, a village located on Alaska’s picturesque Kodiak Island.
It was an exciting change for all of the family, but sadly something, or rather someone, was missing: Billabong, Wyrick’s 13-year-old rescue dog. “Our beloved dog passed unexpectedly in March,” Wyrick told Newsweek. “The ‘plan’ was to wait until my husband retires, as this is his last tour, and get a dog when we settle down.”
However, those plans quickly went out of the window after the family moved to Akhiok. “I decided home wasn’t home without a dog,” Wyrick said. “It wasn’t about any dog though. It was about the right dog.” Wyrick was right to see getting a dog as an essential part of their stay in Alaska. Studies have highlighted the positive impact dog ownership can have on mental health in times of additional stress.
In a 2024 study published in the journal Emotion, researchers enlisted 73 U.S. dog owners to undertake a stress-inducing task followed by one of three activities: sitting quietly, coloring in or interacting with their dog. They found those spending time with their dogs had the best mood and lowest anxiety levels of any of the three groups. The positive impact of spending time with a dog was clear to see.
Eager to find that special four-legged friend, Wyrick drove to a small local shelter to begin the search. That was when she met the dog she would come to know as Echo. “He is a little over a year old, 14-16 months, and came from a little village on the other side of Kodiak Island,” Wyrick said. “The previous home he was in had a few intact males, and you can imagine how that went. Echo was the last to join so he was the one that was surrendered—luckily for us!”
Sometimes it just instantly clicks with a rescue dog. That appears to have been the case for Wyrick and Echo. “I spent a few hours with him on a Friday and then we brought him home on the Saturday,” she said. “It’s been a perfect fit.”
Her two sons are delighted to have a dog again. In the video posted to @megan_offroad, they can be seen playing with Echo out in the snow. It’s a joyous moment for all concerned. Watching on from the window, Echo’s reaction sparked a moment of realization for Wyrick: he had realized he was home. Wyrick’s video captures his joyful, bouncy energy.
“That feeling when you realize you are never going back to the shelter and your forever home has a yard and two boys to play with forever,” Wyrick’s onscreen caption accompanying the clip reads. That moment made it all worthwhile for Wyrick and serves as a reminder of why it’s better to adopt rather than shop. “His joy brings me joy,” Wyrick wrote alongside the clip.
While Echo has plenty of time to enjoy Alaska’s snow and rugged scenery, in due course, when Wyrick’s husband does retire, the family will move back to California. We can’t wait to see Echo’s reaction to that either.
