CHESTER, Va. -- A group of military working dogs based in Chester who were pretty much forgotten after serving our country, are now being rescued.
On Monday, a day 17 months in the making, one was rescued and reunited with the handlers he knew and loved, thanks to one determined kennel owner.
Army Specialist Ethan Moredue and the dog Moto are back together again. The two were inseparable serving in Afghanistan on dangerous missions.
“We used to go out on patrols, and search for bombs,” said Moredue. “Honestly, to be reunited with him feels like part of the family is home.”
“I was with him every day, every hour…,” he added.
Mt. Hope Kennel owner Greg Meredith took in Moto and 12 other military working dogs last February, from a private contractor who said the dogs would only be there five months – before they would be used again for another mission.
But no one ever came back for the dogs. These 12 hero dogs served in Afghanistan and Iraq and are credited with saving thousands of lives.
“These dogs, they put their lives on the line, then they come back to this country… basically said ‘fend for themselves,’” Meredith said.
Meredith said he spent about $150,000 of his own money to care for the dogs. He weaned them off of PTSD medicine and paid for surgeries.
But when the financial burden became too much to bear, he turned to Mission K9 Rescue.
On Monday workers arrived from Texas to take the dogs, and they are now trying to reconnect them with their former handlers.
They are also thankful for the care Meredith showed the animals.
“And he took care of these dogs,” said Kristine Maurer, with Mission K-9 rescue. My hope is that maybe people will reach out and donate to him…so that he doesn’t lose everything for doing the right thing.”
“He’s a hero, who helped these heroes,” she added.
Meredith said he would like to recoup the money his business spent, and he's hoping after this story they can track down the remaining four handlers so the rest of these dogs can also be reunited.
There is a GoFund me account set up to help the Mt. Hope Kennel in Chester, here.
