Army service member reunites with stray dog from Kuwait after 7,000 mile journey to California
Matthew Petersen did not expect a routine patrol in Kuwait to end with a dog waiting for him in California. But the lone stray he met on base, later named Turkey, followed his patrol car, stuck in his mind, and eventually made a 7,000 mile trip to start a new life with him.
Petersen, a Nipomo native and U.S. Army service member, said he usually kept his distance from stray dogs during his deployment in Kuwait. In his experience, dogs on and around the base were often aggressive and usually moved in packs. Turkey stood out because he was alone and, as Petersen described it, did not seem like a threat.
Petersen first noticed the dog in April while patrolling the base where he was stationed as a military police officer. At that point, the dog was by himself, which Petersen said was unusual. He gave him a little food from his patrol car and some water, then carried on.
The dog did not just wander off. Petersen said Turkey followed his patrol car for about three hours while he continued his rounds. What began as a small interaction became a familiar one. After a couple of months, Petersen said he started joking that he should probably adopt the dog. His supervisor's answer was simple: why not?
That was a big step for a service member nearing the end of a six year military commitment overseas. But Turkey had already separated himself from the countless other dogs Petersen had seen. The dog was calm, solitary, and easygoing enough that Petersen eventually gave him a name that, by his own account, had no deep backstory. He and some fellow service members tossed around ideas, one person suggested Turkey, and it stayed.
The long trip home
Getting a stray dog from a military base in Kuwait to a home in California took more than goodwill. Petersen applied for help through a global animal rescue effort and was able to adopt Turkey through SPCA International's Patriot Pets program, which has been helping service members bring animals home from overseas since 2008.
Turkey, described as a 4 year old Lab and Canaan dog mix, was flown from Kuwait to Los Angeles in September. The trip covered 7,000 miles. After Petersen returned to the United States, one of his first road trips was from his home in Paso Robles to a kennel in Inglewood, where Turkey was waiting.
The reunion was exactly the kind of scene dog lovers hope for. Petersen said Turkey was extremely happy to see him. The dog wagged his tail and settled down by Petersen's feet, a quiet greeting that matched the temperament Petersen had noticed back on base.
For all the distance involved, the bond itself had formed in a much simpler way: a patrol, a few snacks, some water, and a dog who kept showing up. By the time Turkey reached Southern California, he was not just a rescue case. He was Petersen's dog.
A very different kind of dog life
Turkey now lives in Paso Robles, where Petersen said the weather is generally at least 40 degrees cooler than the desert conditions the dog came from. According to Petersen, Turkey does not seem especially bothered by the change, though he has noticed that the dog does not like staying outside very long late at night.
That is a sharp contrast with the life Turkey knew before. Petersen said the dog had been used to surviving in temperatures around 140 degrees and scavenging whatever food he could find, often dead camels or trash left by the roadside. In California, Turkey has made a different adjustment. Petersen said he has become more or less an inside dog.
His new routine sounds much softer. Petersen said Turkey especially enjoys riding around town with him, going for walks, and chewing on bully sticks.
Turkey also joined a home that already included a cat named Miss Kitty. Petersen did not offer a grand explanation for either pet name. Miss Kitty, of course, is fairly direct. Turkey, he said with a laugh, was simply the name that stuck.
The story has an obvious rescue arc, but much of its appeal is in those ordinary details. A former stray who once roamed a military base is now learning the pleasures of a car ride, indoor comfort, and life in a home with another pet.
The sounds that still make him pause
Not every part of Turkey's old life disappeared when he arrived in California. Petersen said he has noticed what he called "puppy PTSD" in the dog.
During the United States' ongoing war with Iran, Petersen said sirens warning of incoming missile and drone strikes were a regular part of life on the Kuwait base. He believes Turkey remembers those sounds when fire engines, ambulances, or other emergency vehicles pass by their home. Petersen said the dog freezes a bit, then relaxes once the noise is gone.
Petersen said he recognizes something similar in himself. He said the sound that pulls him back most strongly is one like a lawnmower motor, because it reminds him of an approaching enemy drone. Even a weed whacker starting up can jolt him awake before he remembers he is home and safe.
That shared reaction adds another layer to the story of how Petersen and Turkey found each other. They did not just leave Kuwait at different points and meet again in California. They brought some of the same memories with them, and now they are settling into a quieter life side by side.
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