A dozen four-legged heroes bravely served our country overseas, saving thousands of American lives. But for the past year and a half, they鈥檇 been living in limbo at a kennel in Chester, Virginia, while a contract company who purchased the dogs from the Department of Defense tried to place them as therapy dogs. The new job for the dogs never came through, leaving the kennel owner to care for them indefinitely.
But finally, yesterday, July 27, the dogs were taken under the care of the聽聽and a nonprofit,聽, who are working to reunite the dogs with their handlers or find new homes for them to live out their retirement. Meanwhile, the man who cared for them and rehabbed them for the past 17 months is in financial distress.
The dogs originally arrived in the kennel in February 2014, where they were to stay for only six to eight weeks.
鈥淲hen the K9 warriors were delivered to Mt. Hope Kennels on February 10, 2014, they were originally the property of the Department of Defense and were adopted by a private contract company,鈥� said Mission K9 Rescue cofounder Kristen Maurer. 鈥淭he plan for the dogs was to be repurposed for another mission, but that never happened.鈥�
The kennel owner, Greg Meredith, is owed $150,000 on top of the out-of-pocket expenses that he said reached the tens of thousands. A聽聽account has been set up to help Meredith recover the costs he spent caring for the dogs.
鈥淭his guy has lost everything taking care of these dogs,鈥澛犅燾ofounder Bob Bryant told us. 鈥淚鈥檓 amazed at how energetic, friendly, and happy they are. These dogs have been emotionally nourished and cared for.鈥�
Some of that care involved giving medication and treating severe war trauma, like PTSD. 鈥淭he dogs are in really in great shape,鈥� said cofounder Kristen Maurer. 鈥淭his kennel owner could have just abandoned them, but he exercised them and kept them mentally stimulated. The dogs really love him.鈥�
Meredith told AKC that the dogs showed up emaciated and half of them suffered from PTSD. One needed surgery to removed shrapnel from his tail. 鈥淲e rehabbed them, loved them, exercised them. We took care of them,鈥� said Meredith, who has also rehabilitated dogs rescued from Michael Vick鈥檚 fighting ring. 鈥淭hese dogs served our country. They don鈥檛 have a voice, and if I hadn鈥檛 spoken up for them, I think they might not be alive now.鈥�
At least eight will be reunited with their handlers, and Mission K-9 Rescue is working on finding the last four handlers.
Meredith explains that one dog, Abby, was promised to his handler, but the man tragically died in a car accident. The man鈥檚 wife and two children are now taking the yellow Lab home. 鈥淭his is the last connection that they have to their father,鈥� Meredith says.
He also told us about Moto, a mixed-breed who was reunited with his handler, Ethan Mordue, yesterday. 鈥淭here wasn鈥檛 a dry eye in the place.鈥�
鈥淎ll in all, it鈥檚 been financially devastating for us, but it鈥檚 been well worth it to see the good that鈥檚 coming to these dogs.鈥�
If the dog鈥檚 handlers are not able to take them in, they will be available for rehoming. All applicants must submit a notarized application from Mission K9 to be considered.
To apply or to help financially,聽send an email聽to Mount Hope Kennel, or visit聽听辞谤听.