A 10-year-old retired military hero dog, Dasty, was recently reunited with his former handler, U.S. Army Sgt. Michael Fletcher, after being apart for two years.
Sergeant Fletcher of the U.S. Army was paired with three exceptional dogs during his seven-year career, but his bond with his third dog Dasty, a Dutch Shepherd, was unique. As they navigated deployments, advanced training, and life at home, their partnership stood as a testament to the power of trust and teamwork and only grew stronger with time.
Sgt. Fletcher and Dasty were inseparable during their four years of service together, which included a 10-month deployment in Afghanistan, where they slept together in a small tent in an active combat zone. During their service, they also participated in multiple Secret Service missions, traveling the world together, and providing security for Presidents Trump and Biden.
The two were separated when Sgt. Fletcher left the Army in 2022. After learning that Dasty was retiring due to age, Sgt. Fletcher reached out to American Humane, a D.C. nonprofit organization, for assistance in bringing Dasty to his home in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
The two were reunited on October 12, 2024, as Sgt. Fletcher and his wife Johanna have adopted him so he is now officially part of the Fletcher family.
A Sergeant and His K-9 Partner
Michael Fletcher enlisted in the U.S. Army in 2015, a career path driven by his passion for serving his country and a deep love for animals. As a K-9 handler, he worked closely with highly trained military working dogs, whose missions included explosives detection and patrol. His final and most significant partner was Dasty the Dutch Shepherd, known for his skill, intelligence, and keen sense of loyalty.
The Early Days
Dasty’s military career began in 2016, and though he was initially paired with another handler, Michael became Dasty’s true partner in 2018. At the time, Michael was stationed at Fort Huachuca, Arizona, and he and Dasty underwent an essential bonding period before they fully clicked as a team.
According to Michael, it took about three months for Dasty to warm up to him. Initially, their work was focused on supporting base operations and assisting the local police department, which lacked its own explosives detection dog. The pair’s hard work soon led them to more specialized training, including the prestigious Patrol Explosive Detection Dog – Enhanced (PEDD-E) course.
The Rigorous PEDD-E Training
The PEDD-E program, completed by Michael and Dasty at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, was a defining moment in their service. This advanced 60-day training course is designed to equip military K-9 teams with the skills needed to detect explosives and conduct patrol duties in high-risk environments. The course focuses on off-leash training, enabling dogs like Dasty to work at a distance from their handler — sometimes as far as a football field away — and still execute their duties with precision.
The training is intensive and is only taught three times per year with space for only 10 military working dog teams, but it creates highly effective teams that operate with a unique level of trust and independence. Graduating from PEDD-E is an honor, and one of the perks of the investment of time and resources is that these teams remain paired together even if their handler is relocated (unlike most military working dog teams, which often have to separate when handlers relocate—which is difficult for both handler and dog).
Deployment to Afghanistan: Trials and Triumphs
In 2019, Michael and Dasty were deployed to Logar Province, Afghanistan, a deployment marked by personal sacrifice and professional challenges. For Michael, it was a difficult time—his wife Johanna was pregnant with their first child back home. The separation was tough, but with Dasty, always by his side, he felt not only security but also a much-needed sense of comfort and companionship. The two shared a tent, each with their own twin-sized mattress, and spent all their time together. Caring for Dasty was Michael’s top priority—he would bring him human food from the dining hall on special occasions, and even bought him a pile of blankets from a local bazaar to keep him warm when the mountain temperatures would drop below freezing.
Their assignment at Forward Operating Base (FOB) Dahlke was far from easy. The base was austere, with soldiers living in tents with no heat or air conditioning, enduring extreme weather without basic amenities like running water for weeks at a time. Despite the tough conditions, Dasty became an unofficial mascot of the base, raising morale and giving the troops a reason to smile in the face of adversity. Michael brought Dasty to all of the briefings and meetings so all of the soldiers had the opportunity to interact with him, and many soldiers would even come to hang out in Michael and Dasty’s tent to get a bit more reprieve and comfort.
In addition to their routine patrols, Michael and Dasty were tasked with the crucial and dangerous role of detecting explosives. Every day was a test of their skills and bond as they worked to keep their fellow service members safe. Dasty saved countless lives while serving in Afghanistan, by locating multiple IEDs and remaining steady and focused in combat, even when bullets were flying.
When asked about their bond, Michael shared the story about a mission on a hot summer day. They were running low on water bottles, so he offered Dasty the last bit of water he had and then drank the dregs himself (slobber and all). “That’s how much he meant to me out there. I knew that he needed it more than me because he was keeping everybody behind us safe.”
Michael describes their relationship as more than best friends because they truly had to rely on each other for survival. Johanna likes to tease that the two ‘more than best friends’ returned from Afghanistan with their first gray hairs—a testament to the stress they were under together while on duty.
“They [dogs] uplift your spirits when it’s the worst possible times in your life. They uplift everybody’s spirits around you,” Michael recalls.
Secret Service Missions
After their active service in Afghanistan, the two were relocated to Fort Myer (Joint Base Myer – Henderson Hall) in Northern Virginia. The pair participated in multiple secret service missions protecting President Trump and President Biden in multiple states and countries.
Michael and Dasty also went on to help train other K-9 teams with the skills they learned at PEDD-E.
Their Time Apart
Michael and Dasty were separated in February 2022 when Michael left the Army to pursue a new career. He returned to school, earned a degree, and relocated to Green Bay, Wisconsin, with his family. Meanwhile, Dasty remained at Fort Myer, where he was paired with a new handler, someone who had served under Michael and whom he considers a friend. Since leaving the Army, Michael hadn’t seen Dasty in person, though he has stayed updated on his beloved canine partner through regular updates and occasional FaceTime calls.
When Michael learned that Dasty was retiring due to old age, he was excited but concerned about whether he could take time off from work to travel to Washington, D.C., to pick him up. Fortunately, his wife Johanna came across a TikTok video about the nonprofit organization American Humane and encouraged him to reach out.
The Fletcher family is thrilled that they were able to adopt Dasty and can’t wait to give him the peaceful, well-deserved retirement he has earned after his years of service. Michael believes having Dasty back at his side will help with his ongoing transition to civilian life, especially after the traumatic experiences they shared during their deployment in Afghanistan.
Dasty’s Journey Home
An American Humane handler picked Dasty up from Fort Myer in Arlington, VA on Friday, October 11, 2024. Dasty had his own seat in the cabin during the American Airlines flight (special treatment for a very special pup!).
On Saturday, October 12, Michael and Dasty had a heartwarming reunion in Green Bay, joined by Michael’s wife and their two children. In addition to covering all transportation costs, American Humane will provide free veterinary care for Dasty for the rest of his life.
When asked about what retirement will look like for Dasty in the Fletcher home, he shared “I am honestly looking to just have him sit on the couch and just relax. He has been to enough states, done enough missions. He’s been in enough firefights.”
“He’s good to just relax and get fat,” Michael joked, a bit tongue in cheek. Dasty has earned the right to a cushy retirement, though it’s unlikely he will just sit still. Michael anticipates Dasty won’t want to stay at home when the family goes on walks, and will probably start asking for daily walks as soon as he’s comfortable in his new home.
“I hope that Dasty will be around long enough that my son can remember him and also remember that’s the dog his dad deployed with, and that’s the dog that kept him safe.”
Facts About Military Working Dogs
- Military Working Dogs (MWDs) have quietly but diligently served the USA for over eight decades
- Dogs have faithfully served humans since early civilizations including ancient Egypt, but they didn’t have an official role in the military until 1942 with the creation of the Army K-9 Corps
- Today, K-9s are serving anywhere you find American troops, with over 1600 dogs in active service
- Experienced Department of Defense K-9 personnel are considered Non-commissioned Officers and are always ranked one level higher than their handlers. This ensures that the dogs are treated with the utmost care and respect.
Military Working Dog Retirement Processes & Challenges
Military working dogs (MWDs) and their handlers develop an unbreakable bond while serving their country. These dogs are not only loyal companions but also essential partners in some of the most dangerous missions. Unfortunately, when either the handler or the dog retires or is reassigned, they are often separated. This can be incredibly tough for both the dog and the handler, who have spent years protecting and relying on each other.
The 2016 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) mandates that handlers be given first rights of adoption when their military dogs retire, ensuring that these loyal partners can stay together after service. However, many military dogs have served under multiple handlers throughout their careers, and while every handler forms a deep bond with their K-9 counterpart, not all handlers are able to adopt their dogs, especially if they are still on active duty or stationed overseas.
The NDAA also stipulates that military dogs must retire on U.S. soil, but getting them there can be a challenge. When a military dog retires, it is not always easy for the military to track down their latest handler for adoption, let alone figure out how to transport the dog home. The process involves a significant amount of paperwork, headaches, and red tape, with the steep costs and logistical responsibilities often falling on the handler. This is where additional support is essential to ensure that these brave dogs are cared for in retirement, reunited with their handlers, and able to enjoy the lives they deserve after their service.
American Humane – How They Help
American Humane handles the complex process of transporting and assisting former handlers in adopting their K-9 counterparts when they retire. The organization covers the travel costs for transporting the dog and provides lifelong veterinary care for the retired K-9s.
Like human veterans, K-9 veterans often retire with medical conditions that require extensive—and expensive—veterinary care, but the government does not cover these costs. That’s why American Humane steps in to cover all medical bills for the working dogs they bring home, ensuring these K-9 veterans receive the comfortable and dignified retirement they deserve.
American Humane is the USA’s first and largest humane organization. Please note they are just known by two names – American Humane – and do not include ‘Society’ in their organization, that is a completely different organization.
They have a specific program for military dogs to help protect and recognize their heroic contributions to their country. The work includes bringing retired dogs home to reunite with their handlers, like in Michael and Dasty’s case, and providing veterinary care and financial support to ensure the dogs have the comfortable retirements they deserve.
How Can I Help?
If you’d like to support this cause, you can find out more about how to donate here.
Images provided by American Humane