Soldier Forced To Leave His Dog Overseas Until The Special Moment They're Reunited

Mar 12, 2020 by apost team

When a soldier couldn't stand to leave behind a stray dog he adopted in Iraq, he found a way to bring him home:

They gave the dog the name Oliver and spent lots of time rubbing his belly and sneaking him treats. Ken and Oliver developed a particularly close bond.

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One day, however, the unit was told to pack up and move. Ken was devastated when he realized that he had to say goodbye to Oliver. Worst of all was the knowledge that the pup would be living a sad, lonely life on the streets with no one to take care of him.

Ken decided that he wouldn't accept such a sad turn of events for his Ollie. Upon his return to America, he contacted SPCA International and asked if there was anything that they could do.

The SPCA was willing to help, but it wasn't easy. In addition to tracking down a single stray dog on the streets of Iraq, they had to raise thousands of dollars for things like transport costs and immunization costs. They decided to take Ken's story to social media and ask for donations.

Fortunately, people were touched by the quest to reunite man and man's best friend. They opened their hearts and their wallets, and before long, the SPCA was able to fly Oliver to America. Ken was waiting for him at the airport.

When Oliver saw his long-lost human, he jumped right into his arms and started licking his face. He clearly recognized Ken and loved him.

Ken loved him right back, but he was also surprised at Oliver's transformation. He'd grown from a young puppy into a full-sized dog! However, he still had the same sweet personality as before, and Ken promised to take care of him forever.

"He's a friend and we don't leave friends behind," Wyrsch told CBS SF. "He's going to be with me for the rest of my life."

What do you think of Ken and Oliver's journey? Does it touch your heart? Do you think that more soldiers should be reunited with the dogs that helped them during their service? Let us know in the comments.