For a decade, an adorable black labrador retriever named Angel was a dedicated and fearless Military Working Dog, serving both the U.S. Marine Corps and the U.S. Air Force with unwavering loyalty. Now, as she enters retirement, a long-awaited reunion is finally taking place. We helped bring Angel home.
Since 1916, American Humane Society has been dedicated to supporting our nation’s veterans and the military animals who serve alongside them. We reunite retired military working dogs with their former handlers at no cost to the handler and cover their veterinary care for life.
Angel’s journey began in 2017 when she joined the Department of Defense’s Military Working Dog program. Trained as an off-leash explosive detection dog, her keen nose and steadfast spirit played a vital role in ensuring the safety of those around her. From Japan to Korea, she served with diligence, always ready to take on the next mission. Throughout her career, she had multiple handlers, but none were quite like her first, Sergeant Justin.
Justin, who served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 2015 to 2021 and now continues his service in the U.S. Army as a Military Working Dog Handler, was Angel’s very first handler. Their bond was forged through challenges and triumphs, learning and growing together. “I was not the best handler off the bat, and she wasn’t the best off-leash dog,” Justin recalls. “We had a lot of growing pains together in the Marine Corps. She was extremely hard-headed, but she’s the dog that taught me patience. She became my day one girl.” Life in the military is demanding, and for Justin, Angel became a source of stability and comfort.
Now, after years apart, Justin and Angel are reuniting in Texas, where she will experience the joys of a well-earned retirement. No more work, no more long days of training, just love, comfort, and the simple pleasures of being a dog.
“Honestly, my favorite part of working with Angel was when I would just let her be a dog and run free to decompress,” Justin shares. “She loved the water—she’d recognize training locations with lakes or oceans and would dart straight in. She just loved swimming around.”
With Angel by his side again, Justin looks forward to making up for lost time with boundless pets and cuddles. “I just want to spoil her and give her all the things that normal dogs have.”
You can help military working dogs like Angel find their forever homes by donating to American Humane Society to help ensure these incredible dogs receive the care they deserve and can enjoy retirement.
Learn more about our efforts to support heroes on both ends of the leash at www.americanhumane.org/care-for-our-heroes.
