Ken Wyrsch was stationed at an army base in Iraq when he first encountered Ollie, a tiny puppy who captured the hearts of all the soldiers. They couldn’t bear to see the little street dog suffer, so they took it upon themselves to care for him, providing food and comfort.

Among all the soldiers, Ken became Ollie’s primary caretaker and formed a special bond with him. The two quickly became the best of friends. Ollie was more than just a pet; he became an essential part of life at the base, lifting everyone’s spirits.

As time passed, the small puppy grew, and Ken cherished every moment with his four-legged friend. Ken shared, “He was there when we left for our missions, and he was there when we got back,” in an interview with CBS SF.

The day eventually came for Ken to leave Iraq and head back home to California. The army base was shutting down, meaning Ollie would be left behind and likely find himself alone on the streets once more. The thought broke Ken’s heart, and he was determined to prevent this.

Understanding that Ollie wouldn’t survive the tough street life, especially in a place unfriendly towards animals, Ken reached out to SPCA International for help in bringing Ollie to California.

Thanks to the support and generous donations, Ollie arrived in the USA one month later.

The video below captures their touching reunion. This marked the beginning of a new chapter for Ollie, the street dog from Iraq, who would now live with his best friend in a loving home.

Share this beautiful story if you agree this was such a kind thing to do and wish Ollie the best in his new life!

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