Retired Military Dog Reunites with Former Handler After Two Years Apart [Video]

A recently retired military dog was reunited with his longtime handler after two and a half years apart—just in time for Thanksgiving. 

Eight-year-old Belgian Malinois Yyacob reunited with his former handler and U.S. Army Staff Sergeant, Payton May, in San Antonio, Texas, on Monday, Nov. 25, animal welfare organization American Humane shared in a press release with PEOPLE. This reunion was the first time the old friends had seen each other since their separation in 2022

The pair served nearly two years together, including a nine-month deployment in Iraq, before parting ways when Sgt. May was reassigned to Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland in Texas, leaving Yyacob at Fort Drum Air Force Base in New York.

Yyacob served in the U.S. Army for seven years, acting as a patrol dog and detecting explosives to protect civilians, service members, and even former presidents.

Sgt. May formed a tight bond with Yyacob, as …