Attila, a 6-year-old German Shepherd, received an early retirement after developing a series of health complications, including a cancerous tumor on his ear.
A military dog tasked with protecting President Donald Trump and former President Joe Biden during high-profile events was reunited with his former handler in a heartwarming reunion over the Memorial Day weekend.
Attila, a 6-year-old German Shepherd, was reunited with Army Specialist Kameron Markert after retiring as an elite bomb-sniffing dog in the U.S. Armed Forces, concluding a career that spanned five years.
The pair first met in 2021 and traveled the world together, “completing two dozen security missions, including assignments protecting Presidents Biden and Trump,” American Humane Society (AHS), a nonprofit animal welfare organization, which assisted in the reunion, said in a news release.
“Using Attila’s extraordinary nose to detect potential threats, the team protected civilians, their fellow service members, and high-profile VIPs, including Presidents Biden and Trump,” AHS said.
Some of those missions included the 2023 United Nations General Assembly Summit, the 2024 NATO Summit, and the Inauguration of President Trump in January 2025.
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Watch Attila reunite with Markert in an emotional reunion
Retired bomb-sniffing dog reunites with handler on Memorial Day
Retired bomb-sniffing dog Attila reunites with his handler, Kameron Markert, in Colorado Springs after five years of service together.
Video footage shared by AHS shows the family, consisting of Markert, his wife, 5-year-old son, 7-month-old daughter and two pet dogs — Bear, a black German shepherd, and Mia, a Belgian Malinois — welcoming Attila with cuddles and kisses to his new forever home on May 26 in Colorado Springs.
Attila developed health complications after being separated from owner
When Kameron Markert got reassigned to a new base in Colorado Springs in March 2025, he and Attila were separated after being together for almost three and a half years. When Markert left Fort Meyer in Virginia, he recalled “leaving half of his heart behind.”
However, soon after Markert left, Attila, despite being relatively young, was forced into an early retirement due to a series of health complications, including a cancerous tumor on his rear that had to be removed, along with renal and kidney diseases, AHS said.
“Like many German shepherds, Attila also developed hip dysplasia,” AHS said, adding Markert had rallied for Attila’s disposition “to help ensure his continued health and safety.”
When the time for Attila’s retirement came, Markert eagerly stepped in with the hope of giving Attila the comfortable retirement he deserved. However, transporting the animal over 1,500 miles from Virginia to Colorado posed a major logistical challenge, especially since the family had just covered a 27-hour cross-country drive with two young children for their move.
From Virginia to Colorado
Markert, who was aware of AHS’ military program and knew of other handlers who had successfully reunited with their retired military dogs through the program, reached out to the organization for assistance.
An AHS expert then “personally picked up Attila from Fort Carson and escorted him on a flight to Colorado, where the canine veteran enjoyed his own seat in the cabin of the airplane—all at no cost to the Markerts,” the news release said.
AHS said it will also fund Attila’s veterinary care for the rest of his life, as part of the program.
Markert also shared that while Attila “has always been exceptionally gentle and tender with his 7-month-old daughter,” the German shepherd is “more playful and affectionate” with his son.
“My wife is already ‘mama’ to him, he is so gentle with our kids, and he loves to play with our other dogs. He fits right into our family,” Markert said.
Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@gannett.com and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.
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