A dog and their owner meeting again after years or sometimes just days apart is one of the most tear-jerking videos uploaded online. But did you know even the bravest dogs, like a military dog, are just like any other house dog when it comes to their owners? In Belgian Malinois Yyacob’s case, it was his handler who held his heart.
Just this week, U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Payton May reunited with his former K9 partner, Yyacob, who is now a retired military dog. He used to handle him before he was reassigned to another area. As you can see, it was a typical dog and dog handler story.
When May found out that Yyacob was retiring after seven years of service in the military, he tried his luck in trying to adopt the dog whom he calls his “best friend.” He went on to reach out to the American Humane, which is an animal welfare organization whose main goal is to reunite Military Working Dogs with their former handlers.
How They Met
Yyacob was waiting for this exact moment for two-and-a-half-years until it all came to an end when they finally reunited just this Monday. It’s just in time for the holidays!
May and Yyacob were in the explosives detection unit, where Yyacob served as a patrol dog. They served for nine months in Iraq. Together, it was their duty to check anyone entering their base and ammunition or explosives. They also carried out patrols and scanned vehicles together.
According to the reports from the press release of American Humane, May and Yyacob completed the elite Patrol Explosive Detection Dog-Enhanced Course, which is an advanced program for police patrol and explosive detection dogs that trains them to work effectively off the leash. In Yyacob’s time as a military dog, he protected his fellow service members, civilians, and even presidents.
Dr. Robin Ganzert, President and CEO of American Humane, said that they are grateful for the opportunity to bring Yyacob, a formal military dog, home and reunite with his best friend. With this, the organization will also provide Yyacob with free veterinary care for life. They will provide the care needed to ensure that Yyacob will get the veterinary needs, especially for a dog in his senior years.
Ganzert added that their organization, American Humane, is honored to help these canines get the comfortable retirement they deserve after seven years of service to their country. May is stationed for duty next in Italy. Now that he has adopted Yyacob, he’s looking forward to being close again to Yyacob, even if he hogs him out of bed. 🤣
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What Happens When a Military Dog Retires?
A military dog will retire between the ages of ten and twelve years old. Usually, it is because of sickness or injury.
For humans, retirement age is a way to celebrate life and get the perks of their years of service, but for these dogs, many of them get sent to Lackland Air Force Base near San Antonio, Texas. Before November 2000, they were just euthanized or left in the battlefield troops.
But thankfully, Robby’s Law made it possible to adopt these military dogs by former handlers, law enforcement, and civilian families. Since this law was passed, 90% of dogs get adopted by their handlers.
However, these dogs need to undergo intense screening, like rescued shelter dogs, before they are put up for adoption. After years of fighting on the battlefield and sniffing off bombs, it’s likely that they would show distress and exhaustion as a response. Yes, they have definitely deployed the same signs as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in humans.
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From The Club
Adopting a military dog sure is a lengthy process with treatments, screened interviews, and paper works to complete. But I’d say it’s best to adopt these dogs as you won’t only get a furry best friend but also a highly trained dog who will protect you and your family when it calls for it. Also, you’re going to give them the best retirement years of their lives. It’s like saying thank you for their years in service, so if you’re thinking of adopting a military dog, contact an organization that specializes in the specific cause.
