Group offers reward to reunite soldier, combat buddy
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (WTVD) -- An animal rights group has stepped in to help reunite a soldier and the German Shepherd he went to war with in 2012.
The Washington, D.C.-based American Humane Association is offering a minimum $5,000 reward and a new war dog to the person who adopted a German Shepherd named Matty from Fort Bragg Vet Services earlier this year.
Matty became a combat buddy for Spc. Brent Grommet in 2012. The two were separated when they returned from a deployment to Afghanistan, and Matty was sent to Fort Bragg for treatment and adoption.
The Fort Campbell-based soldier and his family reached out to ABC11 earlier this summer in an attempt to get a message to Matty's new owner. That man, they say, is a local civilian who adopted Matty following an adoption paperwork mix-up on Fort Bragg.
(Click here to read our story from last month.)
Grommet is recovering several war-related injuries, including PTSD, and is on the cusp of a medical retirement. His family likened Grommet and Matty's relationship to that of brothers, and said the soldier needs his combat buddy for a healthy recovery. He's desperately sought Matty since their separation, and has begged the new owner to consider a purchase or barter for the dog, identifiable by a service ID tattoo in one of his ears, marked "V053."
After hearing Grommet's story, the AHA stepped in this week with the monetary and MWD offer. Its President and CEO, Robin Ganzert, said the group would also like to invite the new owner to its Hero Dog Awards show in Los Angeles. The nationally televised event would highlight them as heroes for helping reunite Grommet and Matty, she said.
Ganzert can be reached via e-mail at robing@americanhumane.org.
