{"id":131202,"date":"2024-11-28T23:57:50","date_gmt":"2024-11-28T16:57:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/?p=131202"},"modified":"2024-11-28T23:57:50","modified_gmt":"2024-11-28T16:57:50","slug":"a-us-soldier-thought-hed-never-see-his-k-9-partner-again-this-holiday-both-got-a-surprise-to-be-thankful-for","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/?p=131202","title":{"rendered":"A US soldier thought he\u2019d never see his K-9 partner again. This holiday, both got a surprise to be thankful for"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\r\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\r\n     style=\"display:block\"\r\n     data-ad-format=\"fluid\"\r\n     data-ad-layout-key=\"-fb+5w+4e-db+86\"\r\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     data-ad-slot=\"7910942971\"><\/ins>\r\n<script>\r\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div data-editable=\"content\" itemprop=\"articleBody\" data-reorderable=\"content\">\n<p>\n    <cite class=\"source__cite\"><br \/>\n      <span class=\"source__location\" data-editable=\"location\"\/><br \/>\n      <span class=\"source__text\" data-editable=\"source\">CNN<\/span><br \/>\n        \u00a0\u2014\u00a0<br \/>\n    <\/cite>\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cm3ymya49002i2cp9eue4g0r6@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            US Army Staff Sgt. Payton May and his <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2023\/02\/11\/us\/kaya-ptsd-service-dog-death-trnd\/index.html\">military dog<\/a> Yyacob spent their first Thanksgiving together in the throes of a mission in Iraq.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cm3ymzx9l000a3j6m99lstxhf@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            Yyacob was experienced at explosives detection. And May, back in the fall of 2021,<strong> <\/strong>was a new K-9 handler deployed overseas for the first time.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cm404zbzj001t3b6m3zi9stxi@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            It was Yyacob, May would say years later, who <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2024\/01\/06\/us\/oxford-high-school-comfort-dog\/index.html\">helped him cope<\/a> with the new environment and the \u201cloneliness of deployment.\u201d\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cm3yovbfr001p3j6m09hk5f53@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            \u201cThey see the best of you and the worst of you,\u201d May recalled. \u201cThey\u2019re there with you when you go to sleep, they\u2019re there for you when you wake up \u2026 they give you a sense of purpose.\u201d\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cm3zzvm7g000e3b6msk5e3b4o@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            On that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/interactive\/2024\/11\/us\/cnn-5-things-thanksgiving-quiz-november-2024-sec\/\">Thanksgiving<\/a> three years ago in Iraq, May and Yyacob shared a traditional holiday meal of ham and turkey in the room they shared on base.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cm3zukjrb000o3j6ms2qwft2g@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            Not long after, following nine months of bonding \u2013 sharing a twin-size bed and spending every second of the day together \u2013 the soldier learned he was being reassigned to Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland in Texas.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cm3zychmn00013b6mq36ab922@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            And Yyacob would not be joining him.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cm3yunze5001b3j6m9jt2vifl@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            \u201cIt was kind of soul-crushing,\u201d May told CNN. \u201cYou get used to being around this certain animal, you learn this dog, you put so much effort and time into this dog, and so much love is poured into him. And, of course, it\u2019s kind of heartbreaking.\u201d\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cm3zyfte100043b6mk7sgp69n@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            Time did little to ease that pain, leaving May still coping 2 1\/2 years later with not having his K-9 with him for the holidays.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cm400pdko000k3b6mzr3w11n7@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            Almost 2,000 miles away in Fort Drum, New York, Yyacob was struggling, too. He\u2019d developed separation anxiety after leaving May and couldn\u2019t be paired with another handler.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cm400luk7000i3b6m3vpnuc7l@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            As it turned out, though, neither would have endure their anguish for too much longer.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cm3ztkeju00003j6mf5xoxdyp@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            May, 26, comes from a family of pets and of military service, with great-great-grandparents, great-grandparents and great-uncles on both sides of his family having served in the US armed forces, he said.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cm400w69m000t3b6mr0loaym1@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            But May was the first to work with a military dog.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cm3zyr9hl000b3b6m1yakin66@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            He enlisted in the military at age 18, just four days after his high school graduation. And even given his family\u2019s history of service, May considered leaving the Army in 2019.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cm409emq100013j6mfiogc3u3@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            Instead, he ended up applying to be a K-9 handler.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cm3ztvexx00023j6m7jinfmz8@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            \u201cI was at a point where I was like, \u2018OK, I\u2019m looking at getting out of the Army unless I could do something different,\u2019 because I\u2019m never the type of person to do the same thing for the longest time,\u201d May said. \u201cSo, that\u2019s when somebody brought up, \u2018Hey, there\u2019s this available, but it\u2019s like a unicorn job, so it\u2019s gonna be hard to get.\u2019\u201d\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cm3zu1xz9000b3j6mnw1ozss8@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            The job of a K-9 handler requires military training plus completion of a Military Working Dog Handler Course, from which May said he graduated from in 2020.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cm403es5q000z3b6m7ipjy638@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            After that, he was off to Fort Drum to meet his new counterpart.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cm3zu0mzl00053j6m7we79ydg@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            Yyacob, a Belgian Malinois and 4 years old at the time, was \u201cnuts,\u201d May recalled.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cm3yryd0y000j3j6m7pqsqukl@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            \u201cHe was a little bit of a wild child, little antsy boy, really anxiety-ridden dog,\u201d he said. \u201cYou could just tell by his work ethic. He just feels like once he gets to work, he\u2019s always moving, he\u2019s always doing some craziness.\u201d\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cm3zudy43000l3j6mmyvgmit4@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            Their bond was instant though, May said, even before the pair trained for a month to build their trust.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cm3zvw7ha00343j6mictl0ixk@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            At the time, Yyacob was one of about 1,600 military working dogs, according to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.defense.gov\/Multimedia\/Experience\/Four-Legged-Fighters\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Department of Defense<\/a>. The dogs earned official status in the military with the creation of the Army K-9 Corps in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.defense.gov\/News\/Feature-Stories\/Story\/Article\/3895789\/war-dogs-how-wwi-led-to-the-military-working-dog-program\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">1942<\/a>, trained to <a href=\"https:\/\/api.army.mil\/e2\/c\/downloads\/2024\/08\/30\/5d7487d1\/24-910-employing-mwds-in-lsco-aug-24.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">fulfill <\/a>\u201cdetection, search, attack, and reconnaissance roles.\u201d\n    <\/p>\n<div data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/image\/instances\/cm3yolgfm00013b6mhqqfzf0s@published\" class=\"image image__hide-placeholder\" data-image-variation=\"image\" data-name=\"c-GettyImages-2186854464.jpg\" data-component-name=\"image\" data-observe-resizes=\"\" data-breakpoints=\"{\" image--eq-extra-small=\"\" data-original-ratio=\"0.6666666666666666\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"2400\" data-url=\"https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/c-gettyimages-2186854464.jpg?c=original\" data-editable=\"settings\">\n<div class=\"image__container \" data-image-variation=\"image\" data-breakpoints=\"{\" image--eq-extra-small=\"\">\n       <picture class=\"image__picture\"><source height=\"1600\" width=\"2400\" media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/c-gettyimages-2186854464.jpg?q=w_1110,c_fill\/f_webp\" type=\"image\/webp\"><source height=\"1600\" width=\"2400\" media=\"(min-width: 960px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/c-gettyimages-2186854464.jpg?q=w_1015,c_fill\/f_webp\" type=\"image\/webp\"><source height=\"1600\" width=\"2400\" media=\"(min-width: 480px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/c-gettyimages-2186854464.jpg?q=w_1160,c_fill\/f_webp\" type=\"image\/webp\"><source height=\"1600\" width=\"2400\" media=\"(max-width: 479px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/c-gettyimages-2186854464.jpg?q=w_680,c_fill\/f_webp\" type=\"image\/webp\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/c-gettyimages-2186854464.jpg?q=w_1110,c_fill\" alt=\"American Humane helps reunite Army Staff Sergeant Payton May with his retiring military working dog Yyacob on November 25, in San Antonio, Texas.\" class=\"image__dam-img image__dam-img--loading\" onload=\"this.classList.remove('image__dam-img--loading')\" onerror=\"imageLoadError(this)\" height=\"1600\" width=\"2400\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cm403p8gd00173b6mi14flssd@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            In their first assignment, May and Yyacob helped protect and support high-ranking US government officials, May told CNN. Then in 2021, the pair deployed <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2024\/08\/15\/middleeast\/iraq-operation-inherent-resolve-end-intl-latam\/index.html\">to Iraq<\/a> for <a href=\"https:\/\/dod.defense.gov\/OIR\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Operation Inherent Resolve<\/a>, May said.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cm40ernkx00013j6mwhjk6bv5@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            They returned together to US soil the following spring. But by June, the staff sergeant was headed to San Antonio.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cm403p40800003j6m3pxxbixa@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            \u201cWe literally got off the plane from Iraq back to New York, we went back to the base, and then I was literally going to Texas the next month,\u201d May said. \u201cSo, it was really drastic how quick we were together every day to me not seeing him at all.\u201d\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cm403vnt9001b3b6mumzjmg9f@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            Due to Yyacob\u2019s separation anxiety, the Army couldn\u2019t connect him with another K-9 handler, May told CNN. Instead, he was given a caretaker at his new base. He was no longer a working dog.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cm40bgiox00083b6mpw366r0d@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            That\u2019s when May \u2013 who\u2019d begun caring for a new dog, Towzer \u2013 began petitioning the base to let his former partner retire, he said.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cm40b3bw700043b6mqv2y381j@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            The 2016 National Defense Authorization Act requires K-9 handlers to be given first rights of adoption after their military working dogs retire. But finding a dog\u2019s last handler can be difficult, said Lisa Schoch with the charity <a href=\"https:\/\/www.americanhumane.org\/?utm_campaign=rkd_eg24&amp;msclkid=de5d1e011ca01f677a74794602520627&amp;utm_source=bing&amp;utm_medium=cpc&amp;utm_term=american%20humane&amp;utm_content=Brand%20-%20Exact\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">American Humane<\/a>, which helps facilitate such adoptions.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cm40bgzg1000a3b6mdqbvw7pl@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            When May heard Yyacob\u2019s official last day might be getting close, he reached out to American Humane, the group recalled.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cm40b17ky00003b6msxamjll0@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            Then, sure enough, Yyacob earned his retirement this October.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cm40awq6a001c3j6m26jbvmwk@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            An animal care expert at American Humane, April Smith, was assigned to bring him to his forever home \u2013 one he was sure to be familiar with.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cm40bu7hv000l3b6m01fx9ony@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            She first stayed with Yyacob at Fort Drum for 48 hours to get him accustomed to retirement \u2013 and he adjusted quicker than most, she says.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cm40a1ihe000o3j6mkgxa0n2m@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            \u201cA lot of the dogs aren\u2019t like that,\u201d Smith said. \u201cA lot of them are still kind of in work mode, but he settled right into retirement very quickly \u2026 He wasted no time making himself comfortable and getting that retirement started.\u201d\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cm40a12nh000k3j6m8jdxny12@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            Then, Smith booked a flight, with American Humane covering all the transportation costs, including Yyacob\u2019s own seat on the American Airlines flight, she said.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cm40bvj0p000o3b6m191kgo0y@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            They were headed, of course, to San Antonio.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cm3zxgarw003x3j6mi98h6ikq@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            When Yyacob locked eyes with May on Monday, it was extraordinary how quickly he recognized his former handler, Smith said.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cm40a1lo4000r3j6m3d35dikl@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            \u201cOf all the dogs that I have transported for this program, Yyacob realizing who was there to see him \u2026 was so quick,\u201d she said. \u201cSometimes it does take them a few minutes \u2026 but (with) Yyacob, it was instant. He knew exactly who that was.\u201d\n    <\/p>\n<div data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/image\/instances\/cm40clf0200133b6myfewjq93@published\" class=\"image image__hide-placeholder\" data-image-variation=\"image\" data-name=\"c-GettyImages-2186854405.jpg\" data-component-name=\"image\" data-observe-resizes=\"\" data-breakpoints=\"{\" image--eq-extra-small=\"\" data-original-ratio=\"0.6666666666666666\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"2400\" data-url=\"https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/c-gettyimages-2186854405.jpg?c=original\" data-editable=\"settings\">\n<div class=\"image__container \" data-image-variation=\"image\" data-breakpoints=\"{\" image--eq-extra-small=\"\">\n       <picture class=\"image__picture\"><source height=\"1600\" width=\"2400\" media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/c-gettyimages-2186854405.jpg?q=w_1110,c_fill\/f_webp\" type=\"image\/webp\"><source height=\"1600\" width=\"2400\" media=\"(min-width: 960px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/c-gettyimages-2186854405.jpg?q=w_1015,c_fill\/f_webp\" type=\"image\/webp\"><source height=\"1600\" width=\"2400\" media=\"(min-width: 480px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/c-gettyimages-2186854405.jpg?q=w_1160,c_fill\/f_webp\" type=\"image\/webp\"><source height=\"1600\" width=\"2400\" media=\"(max-width: 479px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/c-gettyimages-2186854405.jpg?q=w_680,c_fill\/f_webp\" type=\"image\/webp\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/c-gettyimages-2186854405.jpg?q=w_1110,c_fill\" alt=\"American Humane helps reunite Army Staff Sergeant Payton May with his retiring military working dog Yyacob on November 25 in San Antonio, Texas. \" class=\"image__dam-img image__dam-img--loading\" onload=\"this.classList.remove('image__dam-img--loading')\" onerror=\"imageLoadError(this)\" height=\"1600\" width=\"2400\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cm40alrlh000x3j6mxzskhzzm@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            The reunion, May said, was both a long time coming and perfect timing.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cm3zv7sn6001r3j6m5utzyn62@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            \u201cIt didn\u2019t really feel real at first,\u201d he said. \u201cIt hasn\u2019t really been that long, but it felt like it\u2019s been forever. I thought the moment would never come.\u201d\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cm403zht5001h3b6mwvfyi1wb@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            His old partner\u2019s arrival came just as he was grieving the loss of another: Just a month earlier, Towzer had died.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cm3zv9yx8001x3j6mimcsdr34@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            \u201cWith the timing and everything, it just felt like it was supposed to happen this way,\u201d May said of Yyacob\u2019s return.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cm3yto41u00063j6mzor8d7tn@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            Now, American Humane has pledged to provide free veterinary care for the rest of Yyacob\u2019s life \u2013 a relief to May, given the dog\u2019s need for anxiety meds, he said.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cm3zuyvp9001b3j6mgt7m868l@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            \u201cIt takes a weight off of our shoulders, especially as military people, because we don\u2019t make that much as it is,\u201d May said. \u201cAnd with the way things are nowadays, everything\u2019s getting expensive, it just takes a whole load off of us.\u201d\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cm3zvb6xq00203j6majenhbnc@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            May, who now works as a Military Working Dog Handler Course instructor, deploys in April for Italy. He plans to have Yyacob \u201cglued to his hip\u201d as he travels, he told CNN.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cm3zvfj4h00233j6m5chylgyw@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            \u201cI plan on just seeing the world with him, getting him out and actually letting him live his life as a dog,\u201d May said. \u201cWhether that\u2019s going to parks and throwing a ball with him or just riding around with me in the car, it doesn\u2019t matter. Just (making) sure he\u2019s with me. That\u2019s all that matters to me.\u201d\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cm3yts4rk000n3j6mcruv5mgx@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            Today, the pair will celebrate their first Thanksgiving in a civilian home \u2013 with a king-size bed.\n    <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\r\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\r\n     style=\"display:block\"\r\n     data-ad-format=\"fluid\"\r\n     data-ad-layout-key=\"-fb+5w+4e-db+86\"\r\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     data-ad-slot=\"7910942971\"><\/ins>\r\n<script>\r\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><div data-type=\"_mgwidget\" data-widget-id=\"1660802\">\r\n<\/div>\r\n<script>(function(w,q){w[q]=w[q]||[];w[q].push([\"_mgc.load\"])})(window,\"_mgq\");\r\n<\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2024\/11\/28\/us\/military-sergeant-k9-reunion-thanksgiving\/index.html\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>CNN \u00a0\u2014\u00a0 US Army Staff Sgt. Payton May and his military dog Yyacob spent their first Thanksgiving together in the throes of a mission in Iraq. Yyacob was experienced at &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/?p=131202\" class=\"more-link\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8629],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-131202","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-u-s","entry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/131202","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=131202"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/131202\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=131202"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=131202"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=131202"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}