They say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, but 9-year-old Attila, a retired U.S. Marine K9, had one final surprise up his paw: an emotional reunion with his former partner, Sergeant Jacob Varela, after years apart.
Attila, a German Shepherd and trained combat tracker, served side-by-side with Varela for three years in a special operations unit. They were inseparable in the field. “If I was eating, he was eating. If I was drinking water, he was drinking water,” said Varela. “He became part of my team… my family.”
Their time together ended in 2017 when Varela left the Marines. For years, he didn’t know where Attila ended up. But when he learned Attila was retiring, he knew exactly what to do.
Mission K9 Rescue, an organization that reunites military dogs with their handlers, stepped in to make it happen. Thanks to them and a Southwest Airlines flight from Houston, Attila touched down at Midway Airport in Chicago… and ran straight into his partner’s arms.
The reunion? Pure joy. Attila barked, jumped, and wagged like a puppy. “The way he reacted… that’s when I knew,” said Varela. “He remembered.”
Now Varela is working on his college degree while Attila settles into a well-earned life of belly rubs and naps. After years of service, the war dog finally gets to just be a dog.
Some friendships are forged in battle and last a lifetime. Share this with someone who needs a feel-good moment today 🐶🇺🇸