Army Sergeant Webb was serving overseas when she came across a little stray dog in need of help.
The scrawny black and brown puppy was the weakest of a group of strays, and Sergeant Webb couldn’t stand to watch her struggle. She jumped into action and started caring for the dog, whom she named PupPup, raising her along with her other responsibilities.
However, when Webb’s tour ended sooner than expected, she worried she’d have to leave PupPup behind. After so long caring for the puppy, the two had formed an incredible bond.
Webb reached out to Paws of War, a nonprofit that helps active military personnel bring animals they’ve rescued back to the States, hoping that they could help PupPup.
“I’m desperately asking Paws of War to help me bring my beautiful, helpless PupPup back to America with me because I can’t stand the thought of leaving her behind,” Webb wrote to Paws of War. “This spot can be very harsh to dogs and I fear she will die if she is left behind. Plus, we have formed such a strong bond that means everything to me. I can’t turn my back on her and would be forever grateful for the help to get her home.”
Robert Misseri, the cofounder of Paws of War, immediately started working on PupPup’s case. “We got on the ground while [Webb] was still serving,” Misseri told The Dodo. “She was about a week and a half from leaving, so we knew we had a very short window to get PupPup.”
First, they brought PupPup to a veterinarian to be vaccinated, and then coordinated a foster home for PupPup to quarantine in until she could leave the country. After four canceled flights, PupPup was finally able to board a plane to her new life.
You can watch PupPup and Webb’s touching reunion here:
When PupPup finally arrived safely, Webb couldn’t believe it was really happening.
“She didn’t believe it until she finally showed up there,” Misseri said. “She has called me every day since and texted me that she still can’t believe that PupPup is with her. She said that it would have weighed very heavy on her heart if she’d had to leave PupPup there.”
PupPup and Sergeant Webb have picked up right where they left off, and couldn’t be happier to be together.
“They’ve become inseparable,” Misseri said.
To help a service member reunite with a dog they rescued, you can make a donation to Paws of War.