“I Hope He Remembers Me.” Three Years After the Army Took His War Dog Away, a Soldier Waited at the Airport

In 2012, Army Specialist Vance McFarland and his dog, Ikar, served together in Afghanistan.

Ikar was a Czech Shepherd trained as a Tactical Explosive Detection Dog. Together they searched for roadside bombs.

“Having a dog with you on deployment is almost like having a little bit of home,” McFarland said.

In September 2012 they flew home together. But when they stepped off the plane at Fort Bragg, McFarland had just enough time for one photo before Ikar was taken away to train for another tour.

Ikar went back to Afghanistan with a new handler.

After that, a private contractor took Ikar and other bomb dogs, and then left them at a kennel in Virginia. The kennel owner, Greg Meredith, looked after the dogs for about a year and a half, but nobody came back for them.

Finally, two charities, Mission K9 Rescue and the United States War Dogs Association, stepped in and started searching for the dogs’ old handlers.

McFarland woke up one morning to a flood of Facebook messages. “Is this your dog?”

In August 2015, he stood waiting at the airport in Boise, Idaho, holding a brand-new dog toy.

“I hope he remembers me,” he said.

Just watch what happens when Ikar sees him.

Ikar went home with McFarland, his wife and their two other dogs.

“He’s going to live the rest of his retired life spoiled,” McFarland said. “Really spoiled.”

Do you think dogs ever forget the people they love? Tell us in the comments.