A retired military working dog who spent years searching for explosives alongside his Army handler is settling into civilian life in Missouri after a 5,400-mile trip from Italy reunited the pair ahead of the Fourth of July.
Boss, a 9-year-old Belgian Malinois, officially retired this year after serving as an explosives detection dog and Patrol Explosive Detection Dog Enhanced, or PEDD-E, from 2019 to 2026. His former handler, Rebecca Anderson, a former Army sergeant, adopted him after the dog completed his military service.
Their reunion took place June 14 in Liberty, Mo., after Boss traveled from Caserma Ederle in Vicenza, Italy, through Venice, Frankfurt, Dulles, Va., and St. Louis, Mo., before a final car ride to the Kansas City area, according to information provided by the American Humane Society.
For Anderson, the reunion ended the longest stretch she had ever spent away from Boss.
“This is the longest I’ve ever been away from him,” Anderson said in an interview transcript provided by the nonprofit. “I bought a bunch of things for him almost as soon as I got home. I think about him every day. I ask for pictures constantly.”
Anderson left active-duty service in December after the end of her term of service and is now an Army Reserve soldier while studying phlebotomy in college. Boss remained overseas while his retirement process was completed, according to the American Humane Society.
The nonprofit helped cover Boss’ domestic transportation costs and will cover veterinary care for the rest of his life.
From Army Kennels to a Life Together
Anderson joined the Army after growing up in Missouri surrounded by animals. When she met with a recruiter, she had two jobs in mind: a veterinary technician or a military working dog handler.
“I told him, ‘I’m working with animals either way,’” Anderson said in the transcript. “They opened a K-9 slot, and the rest is history.”
Boss was her first military working dog. She was his first official handler.
Anderson said she still remembers seeing him for the first time during a tour of the kennels. Other dogs barked or stood still, but Boss, an all-black Belgian Malinois, spun in circles.
“He was so handsome, so young, and he was just spinning,” Anderson said. “He really stood out to me. About three days later, I found out he was mine, and I was so excited. I loved him already.”
The pair certified as an explosives detection team and spent years together across the United States, Europe and the Middle East. Anderson was stationed at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall in Fort Myer, Va., from 2019 to 2022, and later at Caserma Ederle in Italy from 2022 to 2025.
In 2020, Anderson and Boss deployed to Iraq for nine months, where they conducted vehicle inspections and security searches at military entry points.
A Working Dog Who Traveled the World
Boss and Anderson’s assignments also took them to Greece, Ireland, Paris, New York City and several regions across Italy, according to the American Humane Society.
In Europe, Boss helped support security operations for community events, including Fourth of July celebrations, Oktoberfest and Christmas festivals. Before crowds arrived, Boss searched event areas to help ensure they were safe for service members, military families and visitors.
“In Italy we did things like Fourth of July celebrations, Oktoberfest, and Christmas events,” Anderson said in the transcript. “We would search the areas beforehand to make sure everything was safe before people arrived.”
Some of Anderson’s favorite memories with Boss came during temporary duty travel, when policy kept the two close together. After searches and security work, they would return to their hotel room, watch television and rest for the next day’s mission.
One of her favorite memories came during a trip to Greece, when travel delays left the team there for several extra days.
“I got to take him to the beach,” Anderson said. “It was winter, but it was around 75 degrees outside. We were walking around in the sun while the locals were bundled up in winter jackets. It was beautiful.”
Retirement Brings Boss Home
As Boss neared retirement, Anderson said there was never a question about whether she wanted to adopt him.
“Honestly, I always knew we were going to end up together,” Anderson said. “I told myself that when Boss got out, I was getting out.”
Boss retired because of medical issues, including arthritis and dental problems, according to the American Humane Society. After Anderson returned home to Missouri, she began preparing for his arrival months before the reunion, buying supplies and asking friends in Italy for updates and photos.
The American Humane Society helped coordinate Boss’ return through its military working dog reunification program, which assists retired working dogs and former handlers after their service ends.
Boss’ trip home included three flights across two continents and more than 5,400 miles: Venice to Frankfurt, Frankfurt to Dulles, Va., and Washington, D.C., to St. Louis, Mo., followed by a car ride to Liberty, Mo.
The journey brought Boss home just before a holiday he once helped protect overseas.
Anderson said she is most looking forward to the quiet parts of retirement with him: watching television, relaxing at home and having Boss sleep beside her again.
“Honestly, just doing nothing together,” she said. “Watching TV together as we used to on deployments and TDYs. Having him sleeping next to me. Just being lazy together.”
