Marine Sgt. Ross Gundlach, a dog handler in Afghanistan, made a promise to Casey, the yellow Lab who was a constant companion.
"I promised her if we made it out alive, I'd do whatever it took to find her," Gundlach said.
During...
Marine Sgt. Ross Gundlach, a dog handler in Afghanistan, made a promise to Casey, the yellow Lab who was a constant companion.
"I promised her if we made it out alive, I'd do whatever it took to find her," Gundlach said.
During the 150 missions Gundlach and Casey performed together, she never missed an explosive. He gives her full credit for making it back alive.
On Friday, thanks to some great people in Iowa who believe that as long as there are veterans, they should do everything they can to help them, 25-year-old Gundlach was able to keep that promise.
Ever since leaving active duty to take classes at the University of Wisconsin, Gundlach had been trying to adopt 4-year-old Casey. He learned that Casey had finished her service and had been sent to the Iowa State Fire Marshall’s office where she was being used to detect explosives.
Gundlach started a letter writing campaign to State Fire Marshal Director Ray Reynolds, explaining his connection to the dog. He even has a tattoo on his arm showing Casey with angel wings and a halo sitting at the foot of a Marine.
"He's been putting a case together for the last two months, sending me pictures ... it just tugged on your heart," Reynolds said.
So Reynolds planned a surprise to bring them together. First he arranged for the Iowa Elks Association to donate $8,500 to buy another dog for the agency.
Then Reynolds came up with a ruse to get Gundlach to Iowa. He told him he needed to come to the state capitol to plead his case for reuniting with Casey in front of a "bureaucratic oversight committee."
When Gundlach arrived with his parents, they were told the meeting had been delayed and they were invited to join a celebration for Armed Services Day. There, hundreds of military, law enforcement officers and civilians were seated.
And then they brought out Casey.
When Gundlach saw Casey, he put his head in his hands and cried.
She licked his face, wagging her tail furiously.
"It was a total surprise," he said. "I owe her. I'll just try to give her the best life I can." Source
H/T to Pam
