Things didn’t seem the same for Air Force Staff Sergeant Mike Alaca, in 2021, when his duties changed, and he was no longer able to work with John, a bomb-sniffing dog he had worked with for three years. The two had worked together at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Hawaii. As he left, he told those around, however, “I am coming back for that dog,” according to an article on today.com. Little did he know that the promise would be fulfilled later in time for Christmas. 

On the TODAY show on December 22, the Staff Sergeant said that although he had to leave because his skills were needed elsewhere, leaving the dog was “rough.” He asked viewers to imagine what it would be like for them if they had to leave home one day and leave their dog with someone else. He said it would be “sad,” even if the dog would still have a good home.

Sergeant Alca finally got to keep his promise when the dog was released from active duty after eight years of service. He even got to have a reunion with Alcala and his family in time for Christmas in the family’s backyard. Besides the Staff Sergeant, his wife, Brittany, and 10-month-old daughter welcomed John to their family.  

Alcala scratched John’s ears and told his friend, according to the today article, “Welcome home buddy.”