This was tough on the military veteran who spent seven
months in Afghanistan with his military bomb-sniffing dog partner searching for
and finding bombs that could take out a platoon.
During that time together, Pond and Pablo survived a number
of combat patrols and over 30 firefights.
But now, they were separated and the Marine didn't know if
he would ever be reunited with his military dog.
"He was my rock, my foundation," Pond, 27, said
of the Belgian Malinois who became his best friend and protector. "He
saved my life more than once."
Veteran Faces New Battle at Home
After Lance Cpl. David Pond returned to the U.S., not only
did he have to deal with being separated from his military dog, but he was also
taking on a new battle.
The Marine veteran was diagnosed with PTSD and also dealing
with a traumatic brain injury. It was at this time that Pond made up his mind.
He was going to find and reunite with Pablo.
Unlike many veterans who return home and do not get a
second chance to be with the military working dog they served with overseas,
Pond's story does have a happy ending.
But it wasn't an easy journey. It took four years to
reunite with his military dog. The Marine veteran wrote countless letters to
politicians, started an online petition and had to cut through a lot of red
tape.
In the end, it was well worth it as Lance Cpl. David Pond
and Pablo now spend the days together in a much more peaceful manner than they
did in Afghanistan.
To learn more about the Marine veteran with PTSD reuniting
with his military dog, watch the NBC News video below:
