Sadie walked toward Jeremy Ferris at his Newtown home and greeted him with a kiss. Seven months had passed since the Army specialist handed over the stray dog he had met in Jordan. Now, on the morning of Sept. 3, she was finally standing in his yard.
Ferris, 26, had returned home on Aug. 19. Sadie’s arrival completed a homecoming that began far from Connecticut, with an accidental meeting in the dark and a dog chewing a dangerous piece of wood.
Ferris arrived in Jordan on Nov. 12 and traveled by bus to Tower 22, a U.S. military outpost. Shortly after reaching the base, he tripped over a stray dog. The next morning, he found her gnawing on a two-by-four with nails in it and took it away.
He named her Sadie. Described at the time as a seven-month-old Anatolian shepherd mix, she began staying near the barracks. Ferris brought her food at breakfast and dinner, and she met him with a wagging tail when he returned from missions.
Those brief meetings carried weight during a stressful and lonely assignment. “It can help to sit down for five seconds with a pup that wants to see you. It means everything,” Ferris said.
A few days after meeting Sadie, Ferris sent her photograph to his wife, Heather Ferris. Heather supported bringing the dog home and began mailing toys to the base. By the end of December, Jeremy Ferris had decided Sadie should come to Newtown.
Four months of relocation work
The Ferrises turned to Paws of War, a New York-based animal protection organization that helps connect veterans and first responders with rescued animals, and Tabanni, a rescue organization in Jordan. Tabanni operates as the animal-rescue and rehabilitation arm of the Jordanian Society for Animal Protection.
Ferris said Paws of War provided financial help and managed veterinary appointments, flight reports and other relocation logistics. He handed Sadie over in February, then continued his service while receiving updates on her care. The relocation process took four months from beginning to end, he said.
The updates also gave Ferris glimpses of Sadie encountering beds, toys and veterinary care. Behind those small domestic milestones was an administrative process that can vary with a dog’s travel and vaccination history.
Under current CDC entry rules, every dog brought into the United States needs a CDC Dog Import Form receipt. Dogs must also be at least six months old, microchipped and appear healthy upon arrival. Additional vaccination documents, veterinary review or arrival arrangements may be required depending on where a dog has been during the previous six months and where its rabies vaccination was administered.
The CDC form also distinguishes dogs brought into the country by or for a rescue organization as commercial imports. The USDA advises importers that separate federal rules can apply to dogs arriving from places affected by certain animal diseases, while destination states may impose additional entry requirements. Sadie’s specific travel route and completed documents were not detailed, but Ferris credited the rescue organizations with carrying the logistical burden.
A homecoming still in progress
Before Sadie arrived, Heather prepared the house. Paws of War supplied leashes, a harness, collars and a wire crate. Yet equipment and paperwork could only bring Sadie to the threshold. Settling into a home and sharing it with Sonny, the Ferrises’ husky-cattle dog mix would take more time.
Sadie appeared overwhelmed during the reunion and spent her first hours lounging in the backyard. Her slow adjustment is important context for any family welcoming a new dog. Relationships between dogs develop over time, and careful introductions, separate handlers and close attention to each dog’s posture. New and resident dogs should not be left alone together until the family is confident they are getting along. If introductions remain difficult, the organization advises seeking help from a professional animal behaviorist rather than using punishment.
At the Ferris home, there was no need to rush the meaning of the day. Sadie had once waited near a barracks for Ferris to return. Now he could wait while she learned the rhythms of a yard, a house and another dog. Ferris believes caring for her is his chance to return the comfort she gave him overseas. For the moment, that promise looked quiet: Sadie resting outside, with Ferris finally nearby.
Have you ever adopted a dog with a story like this? Share it in the comments.
By Jake Patterson — Freelance feature writer and former animal-shelter volunteer focused on rescue, adoption, and second-chance dog stories.
