While Sgt. Mark received treatment in the U.S. he never forgot his loyal, four-legged comrade. He wondered if the dog would forget him but the bond between the service man and his dog is unbreakable.
“He made me realize that I don’t have any problems. If he doesn’t have any problems, I don’t have any problems. I told (Trooper) that night, ‘Little dog, I’m going to buy you a new set of wheels.’”
“As we respond to the neglect or abuse of a domestic animal, we should be looking closely at the condition of vulnerable people in the same setting,” DA John Chisolm said.
The road to recovery was a long one, but little by little, the true Gideon emerged. Once his body was healed, his sweet and silly personality shined like a starburst.
“We were so sad, so distraught for 17 months,” Miguel Cruz said. “When you’re a dog person, the dog is part of the family. It’s a family member that’s gone. So, you never give up hope.”
