Soldiers overseas have been given new assignments.
Sergeant Niko, who is currently deployed, wants to get at-risk dogs to safety in the United States.
In a statement sent to the nonprofit Paws of War, Niko (who declined to give his last name to protect his privacy) described this as “the most difficult part of the deployment.”
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When a soldier found the puppy, named Mia, outside the base, she was “very weak” and not nearing the end of her life.
“I don't even know how she's surviving with what she has right now,” he said.
Sergeant Niko wants to bring Mia (pictured) back to her family in the United States. (Footprints of War)
“I gave her some food and water,” he said. “She was very scared.”
The soldier said a prayer that the puppy would get better overnight.
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The next morning, Nico was alerted by a team member to a dog crying outside the gate.
“Of course, when I went over to see what was going on, Mia was there,” he said.
“She started wagging her tail and making little meowing noises. It broke my heart.”
Sergeant Nico, pictured with Mia, said he saw the dog looking “weak and scared”. (Footprints of War)
Niko added that it “hurt everyone else on the base as well.”
He told Paws of War magazine: “We knew in our hearts that we couldn't ignore her. We gave her food and water every day. She followed me around as if I was her father.”
“I can't imagine leaving her there, knowing that she would be left alone with no one.”
The soldiers suspected that Mia's parents had been killed, so Niko expressed his gratitude that she had made it to him.
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“She certainly captured my heart,” he said.
Nico said he has daily video calls with his wife and children in the US and that he had spoken to them recently about Mia.
“That dog definitely made his way into my heart,” Nico said. (Footprints of War)
“They were so excited,” he said, “They wanted to FaceTime me, and when I did, they just fell in love with her.”
He continued: “My son [a] I’ve been spending a lot of time with my dog…the FaceTime conversations have taken my focus away from me and are now solely on Mia.”
Nico said his family was “crazy about Mia” and so was he.
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“Everywhere I went she became my shadow,” he said.
“We woke up together, we went to bed together… She brought peace to a place far away. She also brought a sense of security to the other team members back at the base, which was exactly what we needed.”
Nico said Mia became his “shadow” wherever she went. (Footprints of War)
Niko's family kept asking when Mia would be back, so the soldier called in the Paws of War for help.
Now the organization is on a mission to bring the dogs to the United States.
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Paws of War co-founder Robert Miceli told Fox News Digital that he “can't think of anything more rewarding” than helping give Sergeant Niko and his family this “dream.”
“He certainly deserves it,” he said, “and what's left behind for Mia is a slow death sentence.”
Nico reiterated that where he was deployed, “there's nothing left of Mia.”
Paws of War is accepting donations for Mia's rescue at pawsofwar.org. (Footprints of War)
“When we leave, she will be back home without a home, without friends, without food, without water and without protection,” he said. “She will return to a life of vulnerability, fear and uncertainty.”
“Mia is a part of my soul and a part of my family. I can't imagine leaving her behind with no one left behind. I pray that this mission is successful,” Nico said.
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According to the group's website, Paws of War has helped bring more than 600 dogs and cats rescued by US soldiers serving overseas to safety in the United States.
The group is accepting donations at pawsofwar.org.
