An Indiana veteran has been reunited with the bomb-sniffing dog he served with in Afghanistan after he adopted the now-retired canine.

Army veteran Joseph Steenbeke served nearly a year in Afghanistan with a Belgian Malinois named Tess, who rarely left his side.

Steenbeke, a former Tactical Explosive Detective Dog (TEDD) handler, got only minutes to say goodbye to his canine partner when his tour ended in February 2013.

Steenbeke then spent years trying to adopt the now 11-year-old dog, who went on to serve with the Connecticut National Guard before her retirement last week.

Joe Steenbeke poses for a photo with Tess at their home in Culver, Indiana. The northern Indiana veteran was reunited with the bomb-sniffing dog he served with years ago in Afghanistan

Steenbeke was a Tactical Explosive Detective Dog handler in Afghanistan for a year, and Tess was the detective dog

Joe Steenbeke plays with Tess. Rep. Jackie Walorski called Steenbeke to inform him that he'll be able to adopt Tess, a Belgian Malinois whose ID number is tattooed on his arm

On Saturday, Steenbeke and his wife, Stephanie, returned home in Culver, Indiana, after picking up Tess in Newtown, Connecticut, the South Bend Tribune reported.

The playful canine is now getting used to her new home in the northern Indiana town of Culver, about 30 miles south of South Bend.

'We're just looking forward to giving her a good retirement life. She's worked so hard her entire life now she gets to sit back and have fun and live like an eccentric billionaire,' Steenbeke said with a laugh.

In the six years since they parted, Tess' muzzle has turned a bit gray, but Steenbeke said she is still energetic and loves to jump up to give him kisses.

Tess, a Belgian Malinois breed, rarely left Steenbeke's side, but the two only had minutes to say goodbye when his tour ended in 2013

Joe Steenbeke and his wife Stephanie sit in their living room with Tess. Joe hadn't seen Tess since his tour of Afghanistan ended in 2013, but he kept trying to adopt her

Loyal Tess chomps down on her favorite toy as Joe Steenbeke watches

'It's been six years since I've had her and honestly, looking at her right now, it feels like it's been a lifetime,' Steenbeke said, 'but it also feels like it was just yesterday that I said goodbye to her.'

Tess' new favorite toy is a large, red ball she enjoys chewing while curled up on her dog bed.

'She's all about having toys,' Steenbeke said, smiling.

The adoption approval took lots of paperwork and help from family, friends, nonprofits and his Congresswoman Jackie Walorski's office.

Walorski called Steenbeke on January 23 to inform him that he could adopt Tess, whose ID number is tattooed on his arm.

'I know that she's going to be in a great home that loves her from now until forever. I'm just happy to have her back,' the veteran said.