Two U.S. Marine Corps members, Sgt. Isaac Weissend and Marine Corps veteran Dalton Stone, experienced a heartwarming reunion with the dogs they once handled during their service overseas.
Both men, who first became friends while serving as K-9 handlers in Japan, formed an unbreakable bond with their German Shepherd partners—6-year-old Poker and Aida.
Weissend and his loyal K-9, Poker, even undertook a special mission to protect President Joe Biden during a visit to Korea, conducting thorough sweeps for explosives in flights, hotels, vehicles, and buildings. “Every day with Poker was a great day,” Weissend recalled, highlighting the close bond they shared.
However, in 2022, circumstances forced both handlers to part ways with their K-9 partners. Weissend was reassigned to another base, while Stone retired from the Marines for medical reasons.
“Anything and everything we did together,” Stone fondly remembered about his time with Aida, a 6-year-old German Shepherd trained for narcotics detection and patrol duties.
Despite the distance between them, Weissend and Stone remained close friends and were living just a few hours apart in Texas when they learned that both Poker and Aida were retiring from military service.
Eager to be reunited with their K-9 companions, they immediately volunteered to adopt them and reached out to American Humane, an animal welfare organization, for assistance.
Transporting the dogs from Japan to Texas was no small feat—it involved a week-long journey with five stops. American Humane, which has reunited over 60 retired K-9s with their former handlers since 2014, managed the complex logistics.
“It was an honor to help two best friends bring their other best friends home,” said Dr. Robin Ganzert, president and CEO of American Humane.
On May 4, 2024, after more than a year apart, Poker and Aida were finally reunited with Weissend and Stone in Tyler, Texas. To support the veterans and their canine companions, American Humane has committed to covering the dogs’ veterinary bills for the rest of their lives, ensuring these heroes continue to receive the care they deserve after their years of service.
This heartfelt reunion not only underscores the deep bond between service members and their K-9 partners but also highlights the incredible work organizations like American Humane do to bring these heroes back together.
What an amazing story of friendship and loyalty between the Marines and their K-9 partners. It’s heartwarming to see them reunited!
I love reading stories like this. It’s so wonderful that American Humane helps to bring these heroes back together. Truly heartwarming.
This is such a touching story. The bond between these Marines and their K-9 partners is truly special. Thank you for sharing this heartwarming reunion!
I’m so glad to hear that Poker and Aida were finally reunited with Weissend and Stone. They deserve all the love and care after their years of service.
This story brought tears to my eyes. It’s amazing to see the dedication of these Marines to their K-9 partners, and the support from American Humane is truly inspiring.
Such an uplifting story! The bond between these service members and their dogs is incredible, and it’s heartening to see organizations like American Humane supporting them.