Soldier reunited with war dog in Georgia

Nearly four months after a staff sergeant was separated from his military working dog in Afghanistan, the soldier was reunited with the Belgian Malinois at Georgia’s Pine Mountain Police Department, where it had been adopted.

The staff sergeant, whose name is Justin, turned and smiled as Bond was led through a door outside the department Saturday on Chipley Street. Reuniting him with the dog was made possible through the American Humane Association, the Washington, D.C.-based organization that has reunited 23 soldiers with their former military working dogs. With help from the Lois Pope Life Center for Military Affairs, the association contacted the police department and offered $10,000 to fund a replacement for Bond and to make it possible to reunite the dog with the former handler.

Justin did not use his last name because he’s still involved in sensitive operations until he is discharged in September. The soldier said he’s thankful to be reunited with the dog that served with him on 50 missions and three deployments to Afghanistan.

“I really would like to thank the American Humane Association, Lois Pope and the Pine Mountain Police Department for reuniting me with Bond,” he said. “It’s pretty awesome.”

Much of the work to get the soldier reunited with Bond was done by his longtime girlfriend, Sarah, of Atlanta. She and her mother were searching online about former dog handlers and stumbled across the American Humane Association. She was trying to get help for Justin, who wasn’t the same without his longtime companion and battle buddy.

“The day they were separated and he was adopted out of Justin’s unit, it was heartbreaking,” Sarah said. “It was the same relationship like any pet owner but obviously even more of a relationship because of what they had been through in combat in the past. For me, it was very difficult to watch. Typically, a military guy, Justin really doesn’t wear his emotions on his sleeves, but I definitely noted he was sad in missing his buddy.”

After contacting the association and getting a call back, Sarah said the reunion came together over a period of two months. Sarah and Justin received the official word of the reunion a few weeks ago.

“We are still in disbelief this happened so quickly, but it all went very smoothly,” Sarah said. “This really transpired over the course of a couple of months.”

Police Lt. Daniel Ferrone, an officer with 10 years of K-9 experience, said Bond was adopted by the department and arrived just before Christmas. He said the dog, who is 7 years old, has been great for nearly four months at the department but he knew reuniting the dog and handler was the right thing to do.

“As a former K-9 handler, this was something I had an emotional attachment to do,” Ferrone said. “I knew it was the right thing to do, reuniting the working dog and soldier to enjoy retirement together.”

Bond spent most of the four months with Officer Brad Harrell who developed a bond with the dog. While the dog lived with him, Harrell said the dog was very sociable and nice to be around.

“It’s kind of bittersweet, but I understand the sacrifice the gentlemen do for our country,” he said. “He was overseas with him and he deserves to be with his dog.”

Retired Marine Capt. Jason A. Haag, the national director of military affairs at the American Humane Association, knows the value of having dogs as a companion. He uses a service dog, Axel, to help him with wounds he sustained while serving in the Marines.

Military working dogs have a long history, serving with the Romans to disrupt the enemy and during the Civil War to guard soldiers. During World War I, Haag said dogs were used as couriers and they helped locate enemy positions during World War II. Military dogs continued serving in Vietnam where 4,000 were used and there are still 2,500 on active duty.

In 2011, the same breed of dog was used in the mission when Osama bin Laden was killed by Navy SEALS. “Today, working dogs are more important than ever in keeping our working men and women safe,” he said.

This story was originally published April 3, 2016 at 8:25 PM with the headline "Soldier reunited with war dog in Georgia."