Duke was a loyal military working dog for many years, but now it’s time for him to retire and enjoy the rest of his life. Luckily, it didn’t take long for Duke to get adopted by a fellow military worker. The only problem is that transporting working dogs back to the United States can be tricky. So, Duke and his new human were worried they wouldn’t both make it home in time for the holidays.
Paws of War, an organization that rescues animals from troops overseas, wants to help Duke in any way they can. They started a fundraiser to make sure Duke arrives at his home before the new year.
Time for Retirement
As a puppy, Duke started training to serve in the military. He went through special classes to become a dual-purpose working dog that could work as a patrol or detector dog. For seven years, he worked with the U.S. military on important search and patrol missions.
After all that hard work, Duke is deserving of a special retirement. His old age gave him a medical retirement clearance, so he’s ready to spend the rest of his life relaxing and getting pampered.
Sadly, none of Duke’s handlers could adopt him because of where they’re currently deployed. Yet, Petty Officer 2nd Class Adrianna heard he was looking for a home and quickly jumped in to help. She adopted him while she served overseas, which was shortly after her previous retired military dog passed away. Now, the only problem is getting Duke to the United States with her.
“We appreciate all the hard work that [military working dog] Duke did in our military and we are honored to help bring him back to the U.S.,” said Robert Misseri, co-founder of Paws of War. “We will need the help of the community to complete this mission, but we are confident people will want to give back to this military dog who gave so much.”
Help Duke Get Home!
Adrianna will be returning to the U.S. soon, but it’s much easier for her to fly back than it is for Duke. She wanted to make sure Duke travels to his new home as soon as possible so she can spend the holidays with him. Paws of War started a fundraiser to help pay for Duke’s travel.
“He loves snuggles and constantly getting pets,” Adrianna said. “Duke has transitioned so well into retired life, and I cannot wait to allow him to live his retirement in comfort and safety in the country he gave his entire life to protect.”
Luckily, it didn’t take long for Duke’s campaign to be fully funded. In addition to sending him home, they also raised money to supply him with a lifetime of vet care and training. But their fundraising doesn’t stop there. Many brave animals need to make their way back to the United States, so Paws of War will continue raising money for them.
Duke will soon be spending the holidays in a loving, relaxing home. If you’d like to support more dogs like him, please donate to Paws of War.
Toledo, United States.
