Published Jul 6, 2026, 9:26 AM EDT
Retired Military Dog Reunites with Army Handler After 5,400-Mile July 4 Journey
A retired military working dog embarks on a 5,400-mile journey to reunite with his former Army handler ahead of the Fourth of July holiday.
A retired military working dog who spent years searching for explosives alongside his Army handler is settling into civilian life in Missouri after a 5,400-mile trip from Italy reunited the pair ahead of the Fourth of July. Boss, a 9-year-old Belgian Malinois, officially retired this year after serving as an explosives detection dog and Patrol Explosive Detection Dog Enhanced, or PEDD-E, from 2019 to 2026. His former handler, Rebecca Anderson, a former Army sergeant, adopted him after the dog completed his military service.
Army Sgt. Rebecca Anderson poses with Boss, her military working dog partner. Boss retired in 2026 and was later adopted by Anderson. (Photo courtesy of Rebecca Anderson/American Humane Society)
