Spc. Landon Gnade often missed home during his first deployment with the U.S. Army National Guard.
Earlier this year in southeastern Europe, the 20-year-old bonded with a young puppy named Lepo who helped him feel less alone. Gnade spent almost his entire nine-month deployment in Kosovo but had to leave the fluffy brindle dog behind when he left in October, he said.
Now, thanks to the nonprofit Paws of War — which reunites veterans and service members with the dogs and cats that they rescued while deployed — the Great Pyrenees mix has come to the U.S. to live with Gnade on his family farm in Dallas.
“It’s almost like seeing your family again when you come home,” Gnade said, of his reunion with Lepo.
Gnade has always loved animals and grew up with dogs. So when his leaders at the Army camp asked for volunteers to help care for a litter of puppies abandoned at the gate, he was eager to help. He spent most of his deployment raising Lepo, who’s now just under a year old, a bit shy and much calmer than his rambunctious siblings, Gnade said.
He named Lepo after the town of Leposavić, near where he was stationed, as a reminder of his time abroad.
Credit: Paws of War
Credit: Paws of War
Credit: Paws of War
Credit: Paws of War
Paws of War brought Lepo to Gnade this month and held a news conference Tuesday to celebrate the reunion. Lepo happily curled up on the floor next to Gnade. The pup was a bit wary of the cameras but clearly at ease with his pal.
Gnade didn’t know he’d have the opportunity to bring Lepo home. The New York-based Paws of War works behind the scenes to handle the overseas travel logistics — often a difficult and time-consuming process, said Gary Baumann, who organizes the trips home for the pets. Each year, they reunite about 100 dogs and cats with service members.
The group first seeks health care for the animals, a step that can often take days in countries that don’t have veterinarians nearby, Baumann said. Then, they often spend months getting approval to bring the pets to the U.S., he said.
“These people are sacrificing so much to be deployed overseas, and they get really attached to these animals, dogs and cats. They get so attached to them, and there really is no process for them to bring the dog or cat back. So it’s heartbreaking for them,” Baumann said. “So when they find out that they can actually bring the animal back, they’re just so excited.”
Credit: Ben Gray for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Credit: Ben Gray for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution
For Gnade, a student at the University of North Georgia, the bond he formed with Lepo overseas helped the young soldier feel safer and more relaxed during his deployment. He liked coming back to camp after a day’s work and greeting Lepo, who was always excited to see him.
“You can’t confide in the people that you’re typically used to, and you go through a lot of hard things that you don’t expect sometimes,” Gnade said. “When those life challenges come and hit you like a truck, and you’re stuck — you got nothing you can do — it’s awesome to be able to pet a dog, to build a connection with something.”
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