For years, Matthew Kropp and a German Shepherd named Tina worked side by side keeping explosives out of the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad. When Tina grew too old for the job, they were separated, and Kropp feared he would never see her again. A small nonprofit in Pennsylvania had other plans.
A Team That Guarded the U.S. Embassy
Kropp, an Army veteran from Shenandoah, Pennsylvania, began working at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad in 2014, which is where he met Tina. Their job was to stop explosives and other dangerous materials from reaching the embassy. According to the rescue group that later cared for her, the pair worked together through three separate Iraq contracts.
Kropp has said Tina was the heart of the work. He described her as his paycheck and said he could not have managed over there without her.
Separated by Age, Not by Choice
In December 2017, Tina was retired because of her age. Kropp stayed in Iraq to keep working with another dog, and as the months passed he worried the two would never be reunited. A year went by before he got the chance to see her again.
The Reunion
That chance came in December 2018, when Anne Gibbs of K9 Hero Haven arranged a meeting at a restaurant near Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, with local TV cameras rolling. Kropp waited nervously. “I’m hoping that she’s excited and that she remembers me,” he told WNEP before Tina arrived.
She did. Kropp said her reaction showed that the bond they built overseas was still strong. His wife and two children were delighted too, and Tina settled in with the family while Kropp prepared to head back to Iraq a few weeks later. He called it a pretty good holiday present.
The Rescue Behind the Reunion
K9 Hero Haven, a nonprofit based in Herndon, Pennsylvania, was founded in 2015 by Gibbs and her husband after they adopted a retired narcotics dog that shelters had labeled a “difficult placement.” The group takes in retired military, police and customs dogs and, wherever possible, reunites them with their original handlers. Its dogs are often placed with combat veterans or law enforcement families.
By its own count, the group had placed more than 200 working dogs by the time of Tina’s reunion and more than 230 within the following year. “They’re serving our country with four legs rather than two,” Gibbs told WNEP.
Thinking of Adopting a Retired Working Dog?
Stories like Tina’s inspire many people to open their homes to older dogs. A few things to plan for:
- Pet insurance for senior dogs. Older dogs often need more vet visits, so compare pet insurance plans, including their age limits and exclusions.
- Vet and dental costs. Check-ups, dental cleanings, joint care and medications add up, so budget before you adopt.
- Senior dog food. Many owners switch to a senior dog food formulated for joint and digestive health.
- Training support. A retired working dog may need time to settle into home life, and a qualified dog trainer or behaviorist can help.
- Giving back. If you can’t adopt, a donation to a retired military dog rescue helps cover food and veterinary care.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Tina? A German Shepherd explosive-detection dog who worked with Matthew Kropp at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad before retiring because of her age.
Who arranged the reunion? Anne Gibbs, who runs K9 Hero Haven, a Pennsylvania nonprofit that places retired working dogs.
What happened to Tina afterward? She settled in with Kropp’s wife and two children while he completed another stint in Iraq.
Can the public adopt retired military dogs? Rescues like K9 Hero Haven prioritize reuniting dogs with their handlers and placing them with veterans and law enforcement families, so contact the organization directly about its process.
Sources: WNEP, FOX 56, iHeartDogs.com, and K9 Hero Haven, all covering Matthew Kropp’s reunion with military working dog Tina and the work of K9 Hero Haven.
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