IRON MOUNTAIN, Mich. (WZMQ) – A 2-year-old dog named Zuko, owned by recently mobilized military service member Gunnar Frey of Norway, embarked on a journey spanning over 2,000 miles from San Antonio to the Upper Peninsula. This trek was to ensure Zuko could stay with his “fur-ever” grandma for the duration of Frey’s deployment. Despite initial challenges in finding temporary living arrangements for Zuko, a small animal rescue based in Johnson County, Texas, stepped in to assist bringing Zuko homeward-bound.
Teresa Weldon, founder of Mutts Galore, shared the urgency of the situation: “She called me up, called me on Monday, told me that her son was being deployed and at that time, he wasn’t supposed to be deployed until the 15th. The people that were supposed to be keeping his dog backed out. Well, then she calls me back in a little bit more of a panic. He actually had gotten sent out the very next day.” Weldon declared, “We posted a fundraiser, we unfortunately didn’t get a whole lot of help, but we’re doing it anyway.”
The rescue has multiple ways for the community to donate monetarily on the “Mutts Galore” Facebook page, and they also have Amazon and Chewy’s wish lists that get supplies and doggie goodies shipped directly to the rescue in Joshua, Texas.
Jo Ellen Basso, Gunnar Frey’s mother, expressed her surprise at the outpouring of support: “I’m like ok, if you guys can get him up here somehow, cool. I was just trying to find someplace down there that would take him, I never thought in a million years that people would transport him all the way. These are total strangers to me.” Basso noted that fostering pets of deployed service members may be a common problem that military families face, and she’s in awe of the support her family has received.
“That’s what Teresa’s (Weldon’s) big thing was, you know [she said to me] – if I can possibly get him with family, we’ll do that,” noted Basso.
Mutts Galore’s initial plan to deliver Zuko to a checkpoint in Des Moines, Iowa, evolved as they considered Zuko’s well-being. Weldon explained that she’s familiar with the Upper Peninsula, and has brought mutts to the U.P. before, albeit never a military mutt until now: “We actually transport dogs about 3x a year from our rescue up to Almost Home Animal Shelter in Quinnesec, and Northwoods Animal Shelter, which is in Iron River.” She added, “Yes, Ma’am. We have Mutts Galore dogs everywhere up there.”
This act of kindness from strangers left Frey’s family in awe, as they never anticipated such generosity. Zuko’s anticipated arrival in Iron Mountain is set for early evening. WZMQ will follow along with Zuko’s journey, and though Frey’s deployment circumstances remain uncertain, WZMQ will give updates if able to do so.
*Photos/video courtesy: Mutts Galore and Jo Ellen Basso.
