Retired Army Working Canines Eagerly Adopted by Their Former Handlers

Retired army working canine Aida and Poker are spending the Fourth of July with previous buddies: their former handlers — and now their new house owners — veteran Dalton Stone and Sgt. Isaac Weissend.

The pups have been the canine companions of Stone and Sgt. Weissend, respectively, when the 2 males served as  Okay-9 handlers for the U.S. Marine Corps. Stone and Sgt. Weissend met and have become shut buddies whereas serving abroad in Japan.

The handlers and the canine labored collectively for greater than two years, over which period the quartet shaped a detailed bond. In 2022, the 4 buddies parted methods, in response to a launch from American Humane. Stone left the Marine Corps in Feb. 2022, and Sgt. Weissend was assigned to a different base in June 2022. Aida and Poker stayed at their base in Japan and have been assigned to new handlers.

Since leaving Japan, Stone and Sgt. Weissend have continued their friendship. The 2 males stay 5 hours aside in Texas. Sgt. Weissend served as a groomsman at Stone’s 2023 wedding ceremony and lately visited Stone and his spouse in Kilgore, Texas, for his or her child bathe.

After saying goodbye to the canine in Japan, the 2 buddies by no means forgot their former canine companions. So when the friends heard from a buddy that Aida and Poker have been set to retire this yr on the similar time and have been in search of new house owners, Stone and Sgt. Weissend despatched their adoption purposes in collectively.

Each males have been authorised to undertake their respective canine companions. For Stone, that is Aida, a six-year-old feminine German shepherd who served within the Marine Corps as a narcotics detection and patrol canine for over 4 years. Sgt. Weissend adopted Poker, a six-year-old male German shepherd who served the Marine Corps as an explosives detection and patrol canine for over 4 years.

The 2 former Marine Corps Okay-9 handlers contacted the animal welfare group American Humane for assist with the difficult and dear technique of transporting two canine internationally.

American Humane helped the boys arrange Aida and Poker’s journey from Japan to Texas, which took over per week and included 5 completely different stops, dealing with the paperwork, crimson tape, and bills. To make it to Texas, the canine first journeyed by airplane from Okinawa, Japan, to Camp Pendelton in San Diego, California, making stops in Tokyo and Los Angeles. After a couple of days of relaxation in San Diego, Aida and Poker flew to Dallas. On Might 4, the canine arrived in Dallas and took a automotive experience to Tyler, Texas, to reunite with their former handlers.

Stone and Sgt. Weissend reunited with Aida and Poker on the similar time, permitting all 4 buddies to get collectively once more. Whereas the canine hadn’t seen their former teammates for 2 years, they rapidly reconnected with Stone and Sgt. Weissend.

Each males are trying ahead to serving to the canine get pleasure from retirement as beloved household pets. American Humane may even be a part of the canine’ lives endlessly. Together with masking the canine’ journey prices, American Humane has additionally provided to help with Aida and Poker’s veterinary bills for the remainder of their lives.

By no means miss a narrative — join PEOPLE’s free day by day e-newsletter to remain up-to-date on the most effective of what PEOPLE has to supply, from movie star information to forcing human curiosity tales.

“We have reunited dozens of retired army canine with their former handlers, however this particular reunion was nonetheless a primary for American Humane,” mentioned Dr. Robin Ganzert, president and CEO of American Humane. “It was an honor to assist two finest buddies carry their different finest buddies dwelling. All 4 of those army heroes deserve our gratitude and assist after serving our nation.”