Modern Dog Adoption: Shame/Action/Hope! Military snatches hero dog illegally from wounded veteran. Can we get New Media to reunite them?

[Max Goldenson]

Brent Grommet, a Missouri army specialist assigned to the 101st Airborne, had been serving in Afghanistan with Matty, his loyal military working dog from the fall of 2012 through the summer of 2013. Matty was Grommet’s only dog companion during his deployment and the two trained together, served together and were ultimately injured together by IED’s on two separate occasions.

Matty and Grommet worked tirelessly to detect hidden bombs and no doubt saved the lives of numerous American soldiers by instead putting themselves at risk. Their injuries in the field became severe enough that they were sent home. But even on the return flight, their bond was so strong that Grommet slept on Matty’s container.

Military Working Dog Veteran, Matty • Photo Credit: NY Post

Upon returning, Grommet filed the proper paperwork to adopt Matty. Thanks to Robby’s Law, enacted by President Bill Clinton, service men and women such as Grommet have first right to adopt their military working dogs. Signed into law in November of 2000, Robby’s Law declares priority adoption rights first to former handlers, then to law enforcement and lastly to families and other individuals who want to adopt these special dogs. Grommet delivered the application to K2 Solutions, the government contractor in charge of Army canine issues, and waited patiently. Then the unspeakable happened.

The same day Grommet was having back surgery on one of his numerous wartime injuries, he learned that someone else had taken Matty. Thanks to an anonymous tip he would discover that a Lt. Col. Richard Vargas allegedly stole Matty for himself. According to the NY Post, “It’s like someone stole your kid in front of you,” Grommet says, “and there’s nothing you can do about it.”

Spc. Brent Grommet with Matty • Photo Credit: NY Post

Grommet suffers from traumatic brain injury, spinal-cord injury, hearing loss and PTSD as a result of his service in Afghanistan. On top of all this, the military threatened Grommet with prison time at Leavenworth for simply speaking out about Matty’s theft.

Let’s demand Matty’s return. Shame on K2 Solutions for allowing this to happen and shame on the individual who took Matty for himself. Given Grommet and Matty’s service, we have a legal, humane and moral obligation to reunite them. By sending the following email direct to the Army, we can demand that all members of the military adhere to Robby’s Law.

EMAIL TEMPLATE

To: [e-mail]

Subject: Reunite Spc. Grommet and his working dog Matty

Spc. Brent Grommet was unlawfully denied his right to adopt his military working dog, Matty, in direct violation of Robby’s Law (10 U.S.C. 2583). We ask that you investigate his dog’s possible theft by another soldier whom Spc. Grommet has been peacefully attempting to reason with. Many concerned citizens such as myself are outraged and disgusted that a wounded veteran and his veteran dog are being treated in this unacceptable manner outside the confines of the law. We hereby demand that Matty be promptly and legally returned to Spc. Grommet.

Sincerely,

[INSERT NAME HERE]

Our veterans and their veteran military working dogs share a sacred bond that no one should be allowed to break. Let’s honor it now, we can do it.

UPDATE: SPC. GROMMET AND MATTY HAVE BEEN REUNITED! Thanks to Maureen Callahan of the NYPost, the anonymous tipster who first revealed to Spc. Grommet who exactly had taken Matty, the other journalists who reported on the story and mostly the public who sent countless emails and social media posts on New Media demanding Matty’s return. Shame on Richard Vargas who should be brought up on charges for breaking Robby’s Law, and who may be cowardly hiding behind the non-disclosure agreement. And shame on K2 Solutions for not protecting our veteran’s rights - both human and canine. We must hold people accountable to make sure this doesn’t happen again.

Most of all, thank you to our wounded veterans Matty and Spc. Grommet. Their reunion is a victory for everyone but mostly for these two heroes.

Can New Media reunite them, yes it did. Isn’t that great?

[Wanda P]

Just an awful thing to do to a vet, I hope he gets him back

[Kathi]

I have sent this e-mail and hope many more will also. Thank you for posting this Max. I think there is also a petition for this will try to find it and post it here.