Rep. Hudson helps reunite soldier, dog

Richmond County’s congressman earned some national airtime for his role in reuniting a soldier and his retired military dog.

U.S. Rep. Richard Hudson, R-Concord, appeared on Greta Van Susteren’s Fox News program “On the Record” Tuesday night to share the story of Army Spc. Brent Grommet and Matty, his military-trained German shepherd.

Grommet and Matty returned from Afghanistan in July 2013 after both sustained injuries in the line of duty, Hudson’s office said, citing a story in the New York Post. Despite the federal Robby’s Law allowing servicemembers to adopt retired working dogs, Grommet and Matty were separated and Matty was adopted by a family in South Carolina.

Hudson looked into the matter after learning of Matty’s separation from Grommet. The family who adopted Matty offered to return the dog to his first owner, and the pair were reunited last weekend.

“When I first learned of this situation, I was heartbroken and determined to do all that I could to get Matty back to Spc. Grommet,” Hudson said in a statement. “I am truly honored to have played a small role to help reunite these two heroes. Moreover, I am deeply humbled and grateful for the family that cared for Matty and selflessly returned him to our soldier.”

Hudson, who won a second term representing North Carolina’s 8th Congressional District this month, said he plans to help introduce an amendment to Robby’s Law to prevent future inadvertent separations of U.S. troops and their retiring dogs.

Signed into law by President Bill Clinton in November 2000, Robby’s Law allows the adoption of military working dogs by “law enforcement agencies, former handlers of these dogs and other persons capable of humanely caring for these dogs.”

In its current form, the law does not state that the dogs’ former handlers receive any preference or special consideration in canine adoptions.