It’s challenging to picture your life without a dog after you’ve rescued one. It’s even tougher to imagine your dog return to a life on the streets without you. This situation is what many troops stationed abroad face when meeting and falling in love with stray dogs.
While fighting with a Kurdish military unit in Iraq, Army Specialist Ken Wyrsch met Ollie, a stray dog. Everyone stationed there quickly treated the stray dog as a new family member. As he matured from a puppy to an adult, Ollie served as their unofficial mascot.
When troops discovered that the base would be closed, they were concerned about what would happen to Ollie. Wyrsch worried if the dog, with his lovely and pleasant personality, could live by himself.
Ollie had always greeted them with a tail wag before and after missions. Thus, Wyrsch felt he had to do everything he could to keep the dog from returning to life on the streets.
While you’d assume that bringing a dog back with you would be an easy process, it is challenging. Military laws ban dogs from official military transports, and private airlines also have their own set of rules. Furthermore, you have to comply with various health protocols.
Thus, Wyrsch called ASPCA International, an animal rescue organization with extensive expertise in dealing with such a situation. The organization flew Ollie halfway across the world to the cargo terminal at San Franciso International Airport in California, where Wyrsch awaited him.
Once out of his travel crate, Ollie immediately ran toward his old friend and jumped up to him. Indeed, the two have formed such an incredible bond during their time in Iraq.
Though reconnecting with Ollie required a lot of time and money, knowing that the lovely pooch is no longer alone makes all the efforts worthwhile. The adorable dog is a good boy, and he’s worth it.
Video source: KPIX CBS SF Bay Area via YouTube
