From CBS2, Greensboro, NC (http://www.wfmynews2.com/)
LEXINGTON, N.C. — There’s nothing like the bond between man and his best friend.
While Sergeant Shane Strange of Lexington was serving with the U.S. Army National Guard, he said he met Julia, a German Shepherd. He said he was her first handler in 2012 and developed a bond with her that he never had with any other animal.
Strange says Julia ate, slept, played, trained, and comforted the soldiers each day while they were serving as part of the Multinational Force and Observers in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula. He says Julia never once left his side.
Strange attempted to adopt Julia, but told WFMY News 2 his attempts were blocked by his chain of command each time. Recently, he said he was informed that there might be a possibility he could adopt her as the need for her in Egypt had somewhat changed.
He got his wish and was reunited with Julia last weekend.
The reunion was made possible through SPCA International’s Operation Baghdad Pups. The program was founded in 2008 to rescue and reunite patriot pets with service members in the U.S. The organization says it has rescued over 550 animals from multiple countries in the Middle East, Asia, and Africa.
To learn more about Operation Baghdad Pups, click here.