Skip to main content

A dog and his soldier: Lieutenant's prayers answered after beloved pup he bonded with overseas is rescued

A stray dog found and cared for overseas by U.S. Army First Lt. Tad has been brought to safety in Indiana, thanks to the help of New York nonprofit Paws of War.

A soldier’s prayers for his best buddy to join him here at home apparently have been heard.

A stray dog found overseas by U.S. Army First Lt. Tad (full name withheld upon request) has been successfully rescued and brought to safety here in the U.S.

New York nonprofit Paws of War answered the soldier’s call earlier this month to retrieve the starving and abandoned pup named Gus.

DOG IN DANGER REUNITED WITH US SOLDIER FOR FIRST TIME SINCE THEY BONDED OVERSEAS: ‘MAGICAL MOMENT’

At the start of his deployment, Tad first found Gus, who is about two years old, searching for food near the overseas Army base.

The pair immediately connected — and became inseparable after several months of bonding, Paws of War told Fox News Digital.

However, Tad was assigned a deployment requiring him to relocate — so he’d soon have to leave behind his furry best friend.

"I sat with Gus before I left the old base and my heart just sank," Tad wrote in a statement shared with Fox News Digital.

"I could tell he knew something was different, but he had no idea he was about to be alone again in a place [where] so many animals perish without someone to care for them."

US NAVY SAILORS REUNITE WITH THE DOGS THEY RESCUED FROM NEAR-CERTAIN DEATH IN THE MIDDLE EAST

Leaving Gus behind involved "more guilt than I could take," Tad said in his statement.

"He had helped me through deployment and [had] given me something to look forward to each day, and now I was about to betray him," he said.

"I prayed hard that he would be OK, but walking away for the last time haunted me," he continued.

The heart-wrenching goodbye on Jan. 2 of this year led Tad to reach out to New York-based Paws of War for help.

The organization was quick to tackle the complicated task of rescuing Gus from "dangerous" territory (exact location withheld upon request). 

US SOLDIER CARES FOR INJURED DOG OVERSEAS, NOW HOPES TO BRING HIM HOME: ‘BEST CHRISTMAS PRESENT EVER’

When Paws of War’s overseas rescuers finally tracked Gus down, he was found alone on the base, still watching out in the distance "expecting his soldier to return," the group noted.

Gus was recently delivered to Tad’s family in Indianapolis, Indiana — where the dog will soon be reunited with his soldier and friend at the end of Tad's deployment this summer.

"The relief of knowing Gus is safe is indescribable," Tad said. 

"I truly didn't think it would happen and that was so hard to deal with."

He added, "Now I can't wait to see him again knowing he'll never have to be alone another day in his life. I'm grateful beyond words."

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER

Paws of War’s "War-Torn Pups and Cats" program focuses on bringing animals rescued by soldiers overseas to the U.S. to be reunited with the men and women who saved them. 

"This is a perfect example of why our work is so important," Robert Misseri, co-founder of Paws of War, said in a statement provided to Fox News Digital. 

"It's an amazing feeling every time to get another [pet to safety]," he added. 

"We couldn't be more thrilled for Gus and Lieutenant Tad, and we thank everyone who makes what we do possible."

Misseri explained that what motivates the organization is witnessing the heartbreak felt by U.S. service members who are forced to leave behind animals they see "as family members" — and then being able to reunite them eventually.

"Our rescue missions for our soldiers and the animals they love are funded by the kindness of compassionate members of the public who believe in our work and want to help give back to our heroes," he said.

Paws of War, a 501c3 nonprofit, has more than 80 active cases in progress right now.

For more information on future missions and how to help, visit pawsofwar.org.

Data & News supplied by www.cloudquote.io
Stock quotes supplied by Barchart
Quotes delayed at least 20 minutes.
By accessing this page, you agree to the following
Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions.