The bond between a man and a dog is an extraordinary one.
That’s why they call dog “man’s best friend.”
When U.S. Army Sgt. Jake Ferkin was finally reunited after with his military dog, it was like being reunited with his long lost best friend.
“I am so excited and thankful to be reconnected with Iskra,” Ferkin told KTXS 12 ABC. “I cannot wait for her to be able to enjoy her retirement and have her take her place on Fort Couch.”
Ferkin and 10-year-old Czech Shepherd Iskra were first teamed up in 2016 and trained together in the U.S. Army for three months before being shipped off for missions in New York, Jerusalem, and Sicily.
“Iskra and I met in February of 2016, it took a few weeks for us to really bond but when we did we were inseparable. I would go to the kennels during the weekend just to see her. We certified within three months and that’s where the fun really began,” Ferkin told Mission K9 Rescue.
During that time Ferkin told KENS 5: You San Antonio News Source that this time was like getting to travel the world with his best friend.
During this time Iskra served as a patrol and explosive detection dog.
Then they were separated for two whole years. They last saw each other in 2018.
Ferkin said he had a difficult time being separated from his best friend.
But there was a bright spot that he could always look forward to.
He knew that one day Iskra would retire.
And at that point, they would be able to be reunited.
Finally, the day came when Iskra was able to put her days serving in the military behind her and settle in as a retiree.
Thanks to Mission K9 Rescue, Iskra was able to come home to her best friend.
Mission K9 Rescue is an organization that rescues, reunites, re-homes, rehabilitates, and repairs retired working dogs that have served mankind.
If the dog had a retired handler that wants to be reunited, they make every effort to bring that dog back to the solider.
And that definitely included Ferkin.
So, Mission K9 Rescue picked Iskra up in Ft. Myer, Virginia and then drove 1,600 miles to Boerne so that she could be reunited with Ferkin over Memorial Day Weekend.
“It is important to honor and protect all of our military heroes; both two and four-footed,” said President of Mission K9 Rescue Kristen Maurer said. “Military Working Dogs have been a vital, life-saving part of our armed services, and they deserve our support when they can no longer work.”
“We’re honored on this Memorial Day Weekend to have been able to make this journey in order for Sgt. Ferkin and Iskra to be reunited.”
And the reunion was just as heartwarming as you would imagine it to be. Iskra immediately recognized and ran over to Ferkin.
Iskra could hardly contain her excitement and was squirming all over the place while Ferkin pet her.
She then started jumping all over her handler and gave him lots of kisses.
Iskra would calm down for a bit and let Ferkin stop and give her pets.
But then she just got too darn excited and starting jumping up and down again.
She stopped again for some pets and then went right back to jumping up and down with excitement.
And you can absolutely tell that Ferkin was just as overjoyed to see Iskra as Iskra was to see Ferkin. You can learn more about this story in the video below.
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