Retired Military Dog Dasty Reunites With His Handler in Touching Story

There’s nothing quite like the bond between a dog and its owner. That relationship is even more special—and intense—when the pair are working together in high-risk environments. That was the case for a former Army dog and one of his previous human partners, who couldn’t wait to adopt the pup after his recent retirement. Read on to learn more about this special military dog named Dasty and how he reunited with his former handler.

Who is the military dog Dasty?

Dasty, an 11-year-old Dutch shepherd, was a military working dog for the United States Army and Secret Service. He was specifically trained for detecting explosives, according to the American Humane Hero Dog Awards, and did so with calm accuracy and dedication. His impressive efforts ensured many missions in both the U.S. and Afghanistan were safe for all involved.

You might think that a dog with such a dangerous job would have a serious personality, but that’s not the case for Dasty! The troops he spent time with reported the pup as being playful and enthusiastic, which lifted everyone’s spirits whenever they had the pleasure of being around him.

A look at the bond between Dasty and his handler

U.S. Army Sergeant Michael Fletcher enlisted in the army in 2015 and, due to his love for animals, worked as a K-9 handler. His final canine partner was Dasty, though the two didn’t immediately work together. The pup’s military career started in 2016 with another handler and he didn’t start working with Fletcher until 2018, reports Dogster.

They were introduced at Fort Huachuca, Arizona (where Fletcher was stationed), and it took three months for Dasty to warm up to his future owner. Part of the bonding and training process involved working on base operations and assisting the local police department.

Eventually the duo got deployed to Afghanistan once they completed a 60-day training course designed to prepare K-9 teams with the skills they need to operate in high-risk environments. Their bond during deployment only strengthened.

According to Dogster, the pair not only shared a tent (each with their own mattress), but Fletcher ensured his canine companion was well looked after. He would occasionally bring him human food from the dining hall and grab blankets from a local bazaar to ensure the pup was cozy on cold nights.

“If I didn’t have Dasty in Afghanistan, there’s no possible way to know what would happen,” Fletcher told American Humane, reports the Green Bay Press Gazette. “But what I do know is that I did take him and I made it back home safe, and my family and I are very gracious to Dasty for that. And he probably doesn’t even know what he did.”

Eventually, Fletcher and Dasty were relocated to Fort Myer in North Virginia, where their focus turned to secret service missions within the U.S. But their time working together came to an end in February 2022 when Fletcher left the Army to pursue another career.

The Fletcher and Dasty reunion

During the separation, Fletcher was able to stay updated on Dasty via a friend back at Fort Myer, who was serving as the dog’s handler. But he hadn’t seen the pup in person in two years.

All of that changed when Fletcher heard his furry former partner was retiring due to old age. He knew he wanted to adopt the dog and welcome him into his family with lots of love. The nonprofit organization American Humane made it possible by covering travel expenses and flying the dog out with a handler so he could join his future owner in Green Bay. (Read how one woman helps provide veterans with service dogs). 

Seeing Dasty in person again was “surreal,” as Fletcher described in a video interview with American Humane. The pup was a bit apprehensive at first, but as soon as he remembered his old pal and partner, the pair began playing together again like old times.

Now, Fletcher can’t wait to give the retired pup a well-deserved break after so many years of hard work. “I am honestly looking to just have him sit on the couch and just relax,” he said in the video. “He’s done enough. He’s been to enough countries with me. He has been to enough states, done enough missions. He’s been in enough firefights. He’s good to just relax and get fat.”

See an adorable clip of the duo reunited in the video below:

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