U.S. Sergeant, Nesconset Nonprofit, Aim To Save Dog From Overseas

NESCONSET, NY — U.S. Army Sergeant Vont is one of many American soldiers who will soon be returning home from the Middle East. Some soldiers may encounter the decision to leave behind a pet they rescued or find a way to get help bringing it back to safety in the U.S.

For Sergeant Vont, the thought of leaving behind Tyson, the puppy he rescued, is unacceptable, leaving him desperate for a way to help save his furry family member. He turned to Paws of War, a Nesconset-based nonprofit, for help.

"This is a great story of how a dog has helped a whole base of people," Dereck Cartright, a disabled veteran who is the stateside logistics coordinator at Paws of War, said in a news release. "There’s just no way he can be left behind when they all come home. We will do everything we can to help bring Tyson home to live out his life, but we need the help of the public to make it happen."

Paws of War is seeking donations to help Sergeant Vont bring Tyson home. You can click the hyperlink if you would like to donate.

When Sergeant Vont came across a puppy along the side of the road that was emaciated and abandoned, he knew he had to take action, according to Paws of War. He brought the puppy back to safety, named him Tyson, and then watched the way his health improved and how happy he made everyone around him.

Tyson spent his days playing with all the soldiers, who would look forward to their time with him, according to Paws of War. As they would come and go, they would share stories of their time spent with the growing pup. He uplifted the spirits of everyone that played with him or watched him run around, but his favorite person was Sgt. Vont. When he was around, he always followed him wherever he went. The feelings and admiration were mutual, and their bond continued to grow.

Now that some soldiers are heading home from the Middle East, Sgt. Vont has turned to Paws of War for help in bringing Tyson home to the U.S. If successful, it would give him a chance to live out his life with Sgt. Vont and his family. The alternative would be to leave him behind in the Middle East, which would end up being a death sentence, as the terrain is harsh and the country doesn't have the love for dogs that Americans do, according to Paws of War.

"Tyson has become family to me, and I can’t bear the thought of leaving him behind in where I know he will suffer," Sgt. Vont stated via news release. "I appreciate any and all effort and support to help make it possible to bring him home with me. It will be a dream come true, really."

Paws of War has a reputation of helping soldiers bring their pets back from overseas. It’s a mission that is costly and takes jumping through numerous hoops, but Paws of War has done it enough times that it is able to navigate the procedure and successfully relocate the pet. The organization has a strong network of support that helps it to navigate through the challenges and logistics of relocating a pet overseas and to pay for the care, paperwork, and flight that is involved in the mission.

Paws of War helps soldiers bring their rescued dogs and cats to America after serving their country overseas through its War Torn Pups and Cats program.