- A bomb-sniffing military dog named Mally was finally reunited with her former handler in Afghanistan after seven years apart.
- After US Marine Nick Montez was honorably discharged in 2013, he stayed in touch with the Air Force base to find out when Mally could be adopted.
- The pair finally reunited stateside, and Montez plans to treat Mally like a princess.
After seven years apart, a US Marine was finally reunited with his former partner in Afghanistan: a dog named Mally.
While in Afghanistan, Nick Montez and Mally were responsible for finding improvised explosive devices together.
Nick Montez told KREM 2 News that he made sure to take great care of her while the two were on duty. "I'd give her IV's before we'd go out on patrol if it was a hot day, just to make sure she was hydrated." He would also "clip her toenails, massage her pads, clean her ears every week. Work with her, train with her."
Before Montez even knew adoption was a future possibility, he got a tattoo in honor of Mally that depicts her name, a paw print, and her military identification number.
The two had a special bond.
Montez shared that once the pair's tour of duty eventually ended and Mally was reassigned to a new mission, "It was pretty rough, the separation. I wasn't ready for it. It was pretty sudden."
They had worked together for over a year.
After he was honorably discharged in 2013, Montez continued to check in on Mally to see if he could adopt her, but she was still needed in the armed forces. According to The Lewiston Tribune, Montez was communicating with the Air Force base to stay updated about Mally's status. Finally, he received a letter from Idaho Senator Mike Crapo, informing him that Mally was finished with her service and ready to be brought home.
Montez flew to Texas to pick her up, as she had just finished serving with the Air Force base there. KREM 2 News reports that a non-profit called Mission K9 Rescue, which focuses on service dogs, paid for his flights. Montez received many other donations to help with Mally's transition, which Montez will give back to the Lewis-Clark Animal Shelter, as well as Mission K9 Rescue.
On Tuesday, Montez and Mally returned safely to his hometown in Lewiston, Idaho. Montez shared with The Lewiston Tribune that he's excited to get into a normal routine with Mally, and he's "surprised our story has affected so many people. That's a pleasant feeling."
You can watch the heartwarming interview with Nick Montez reported by KREM 2 News here:
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