Military Dog Reunited With Handler After Being Left For Dead In Afghanistan

June 4, 2024 Malorie Thompson

When Kristen St. Pierre returned from work in Afghanistan in 2019, she left behind her bomb-sniffing companion, Chase.

As she shared on Facebook, despite being safe and sound in Georgia, St. Pierre couldn't get the thought of Chase out of her mind and she regularly caught up with his new military handler to see photos and updates.

However, in 2021, the United States troops abruptly left Afghanistan 20 years after invading the country. Amidst the chaos of the sudden withdrawal, St. Pierre lost touch with Chase and was unsure of what happened to him.

Speaking with CBS News, she said: "I heard Chase and other dogs would be on flights to the U.S. and Europe. The next I heard the dogs weren't allowed on the planes and they were released from the airport with little chance of survival."

Photo: Flickr/Jim Kelly License: CC BY 2.0

A nonprofit vet clinic and animal shelter in Afghanistan, the Kabul Small Animal Rescue, confirmed that was true.

They shared on Facebook that the U.S. military chose to release the dogs at the airport to die, rather than allowing the dogs to return to the Kabul Small Animal Rescue clinic where they were being housed "following a series of failed charter evacuation flights."

Staff of the rescue spent months working to recover the lost dogs, and St. Pierre kept a close watch on their social media channels just in case they managed to find Chase. However, as weeks turned to months, it seemed evident that Chase was dead.

Miraculously, in November of 2022, 15 months after the U.S. military released the dogs to die, the rescue shared an update on Facebook saying:

"We have never stopped looking for them and trying to recover them, and today we have brought home one more. Chase has just had a much needed bath and is getting the spa treatment from our team of vets, to be followed by a chicken dinner and soft bed to sleep in."

Of course, St. Pierre was quick to reach out to the rescue and ask if she could adopt Chase.

It took months of paperwork and hurdles to overcome, but in April of 2023, Chase finally arrived home in Georga.

According to CBS News,

Malorie Thompson

Malorie works as a writer and editor in Northern California. She's passionate about food, conscious living, animal welfare, and conservation. She's worked with a variety of publications in different sectors but is happiest covering topics close to her heart. When not at her laptop, Malorie can be found enjoying picnics on the beach, hiking in the redwoods, and spending time with her rescue pup, Jax.

Country/region

Help Animals That Need Medical Care

Unique Quality Products

From exclusive pet-loving designs to hand-crafted artisan goods, our products are hand-picked for their superior quality and unique features.

Exceptional Value

We believe that shopping for good should be affordable and accessible to everyone, which is why we offer fair pricing and daily deals.

Satisfaction Guaranteed

With 20 years of extraordinary customer service and a stellar 4.8 ⭐ average rating, we stand by our process and your guaranteed satisfaction.

Every Purchase Gives Back

Every single purchase helps fund today’s most relevant and impactful causes so you can contribute to the causes you care about most, supporting people, pets, and the planet.

Join the Movement

Connect with millions of animal lovers and humanitarians that make up the GreaterGood community, and discover the power of collective impact. Together, we’ve raised over $80 million for charity and counting!