CUMBERLAND, Ga. -- For eight months, Army Spc. Landon Gnade and his puppy Lepo called Camp Nothing Hill in northern Kosovo home. Before returning to the U.S. in November, Gnade never thought he would see his pup again.
But thanks to help from nonprofit Paws of War, the two were reunited Tuesday at the Embassy Suites -- Atlanta Galleria hotel.
Upon seeing his former owner, Lepo's tail immediately began to wag as he made his way to Gnade before lying at his feet. It was the first time the two had seen each other since the first week of October.
Going forward, Lepo will now call Gnade's farm in the city of Dallas home.
Humble Beginnings
The duo first met in March while Gnade, 20, was stationed at the camp in his first overseas deployment. As an indirect fire infantryman, Gnade served in the southeastern European country from February to early November.
Dogs and cats are usually found outside the camp walls, he said, oftentimes dropped off by locals who wish for the animals to get help.
When a Great Pyrenees and her litter of puppies showed up at the door, Gnade and fellow servicemembers volunteered to take care of the group by giving them attention, feeding and playing with them during their free time.
Growing up in Paulding County, Gnade lived with his grandmother who was nicknamed Elly May after the character from "The Beverly Hillbillies," due to her love of animals. Because of this, Gnade was no stranger to having pets in the house, at one point owning a pet deer after his grandmother saved it from the side of the road.
In a litter of energized pups, Lepo, first named Onyx, stood out to Gnade for his calm demeanor, and the two quickly bonded.
"(It) was the right time, right place," Gnade said. "And it was like Bonnie and Clyde."
Gnade eventually renamed the pup Lepo after Leposaviq, a nearby town outside the camp. This name change was meant to remind him and Lepo of the beginning of their friendship, Gnade said.
Their meeting could not have come at a better time, Gnade said, since moving to the other side of the world away from friends and family left him feeling isolated.
Whenever military or personal challenges came about, Gnade said it was hard to cope with since he did not have his family or friends to turn to. Although he had the company of fellow servicemembers, everything changed when Lepo arrived.
"When those life challenges come and hit you like a truck, and you're stuck and there's nothing you can do, it's awesome to be able to pet a dog," he said. "It's also good to know that he (Lepo) almost confides in me."
How it works
Gnade did not think he would ever see Lepo again when his deployment ended. But thanks to a good word from his senior officers, he learned about the possibility of bringing his new best friend home with him.
Paws of War aims to alleviate the suffering of veterans, first responders and their families, particularly those battling Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), by providing them with loyal service dogs.
The nonprofit rescues and trains dogs from local shelters to become not just companions but also catalysts for healing, according to Gary Baumann, overseas rescue coordinator with Paws of War.
Oftentimes, Paws of War will also rescue dogs and cats from war-torn regions, and reunite military personnel with the animals they formed bonds with during their service. These efforts are to take care of both the animals and the servicemembers taking care of them.
"(Soldiers) get so attached to these animals ... and there really is no process for them to bring a dog or cat back. So, it's heartbreaking for them," Baumann said. "Our organization's motto is, 'Helping both ends of the leash.'"
Once Gnade heard about the program, he said he immediately jumped at the chance of bringing Lepo home. But the process of bringing a dog back to the U.S. is much easier said than done, according to Baumann, who described it as "insanely hard."
Due to the significant lack of veterinarians and animal hospitals in certain regions, it can take up to two months for Paws of War to give one animal all the required veterinary care and vaccinations necessary for migration.
Finding a flight can also be a challenge, Baumann said, since some airlines don't take animals in their cargo. Sometimes, the nonprofit will need to send a representative overseas to fly the animal back to the U.S. All funds are provided entirely by donations to Paws of War, Baumann said.
Once in the states, dogs are then sent to the Paws of War headquarters in Nesconset, New York, where they are evaluated and given additional training before being returned to the servicemembers.
Throughout Paws of War's 10 years of operation, they have successfully reunited over 600 dogs with their respective servicemembers.
In Lepo's case, once he was cleared for the move, he was transferred out of Kosovo to the U.S. during the first week of October, one month before Gnade's return from deployment in early November. Their reunion Tuesday was the first time they have seen each other in over two months.
"It's almost like seeing your family again," Gnade said. "I know it was only two months, but it felt like forever."
In addition to bringing the dog to Georgia, Baumann said Paws of War will be covering all of Lepo's medical and pet insurance costs for the remainder of his life.
"We try and take care of the soldier and the dog for life," Baumann said. "Whatever the dog needs, we're there for them."
Looking ahead, the pair will move back to Gnade's home in Dallas, where he lives with his great-aunt Brenda Feenstra. Located on a farm, Lepo will get to interact with some of Gnade and Feentra's other pets including horses, chickens, goats and other dogs.
"He's definitely going to get to know the land," Gnade said.
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