Fort Carson Soldiers Trying To Bring Adopted Puppy To United States

If you are not a dog lover, there is not much of a chance this story will touch your heart. I have had some cats in my life, but dogs, well, they don't love you depending on what mood they are in.

This is Harpo and me at 20 (long time ago) a German Shepherd/Mastiff at six months old. When I brought him home, he was just two months old and I drove my car with him in my coat pocket. He was with me in some very difficult times. As a matter of fact, while Harpo loved everyone, he didn't like my ex-husband from the time we started to date. He was a better judge of character than I was.

Brandon, our Golden was with us for almost 14 years. We had to put him down two years ago when age caught up to him and he began to shut down. Brandon came into our lives when this family was falling apart because of PTSD and the poor dog had to listen to all of us cry, get soaked with our tears and gave us more love back than we could have ever given him.


This is Mac a Lab/Border Collie. Mac was with us only 5 months this year. We adopted him in January. He got sick the end of June and we had to put him down a couple of weeks ago. In the short time he was with us, he loved us beyond measure. He used to take naps with me on the family room sofa.

Mac was also subjected to a lot of projects for my college classes.

And now we have Harry. A Rottweiler/Lab. He's almost 4 months old.

At every major time in my life and when life was good, dogs were there just as much as any other part of my family. It didn't matter if I had them for months or years, the connection was so strong that they were equal to humans in our family. The bond can, and usually is, that strong.

When I look back at pictures I've seen with men and women deployed into combat, it is clear to see that they are not just smiling with a cute puppy, but loving them. Knowing first hand how much they tug at your soul, it is easy for me to understand that bond and the need to get them back. War dogs offer something no weapon ever can in combat. A reminder that unconditional love can live on even in horrible places.

Fort Carson Soldiers Trying To Bring Adopted Puppy To United States
Less than a week ago, several troops returned home to Fort Carson from a year long deployment in Afghanistan. While overseas, an Army unit adopted a puppy and they're now fighting to bring it to the United States.
Reporter: Alyssa Chin

Less than a week ago, several soldiers returned home to Fort Carson from a year long deployment in Afghanistan. While overseas, their unit adopted a puppy and they're now fighting to bring it to Colorado Springs.

During our interview with SGT Ryan Kivistad, he flipped through the photos of his deployment in Afghanistan. Several of them featured a dog named Gordita.


"She's a good dog. It's not really a good place over there. (I want to) make sure she gets a good home," Kivistad said.

Shortly after the loss of three unit members killed by a roadside bomb, Gordita was adopted in a trade for three parachutes. She helped these troops cope and quickly became the highlight of their time overseas.
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Fort Carson Soldiers Trying To Bring Adopted Puppy To United States