Sean Laidlaw spent a decade battling in Afghanistan, but his journey took a different turn when he was deployed to Syria where he specialized in dismantling explosives.

During his time in Syria in February 2018, while working to dispose of homemade bombs, Sean was surprised to hear unusual sounds emanating from the ruins of a bombed school. Upon investigating, Sean found a scared puppy cowering amidst the remains of four other deceased dogs.

Sean didn’t hesitate and brought the puppy to his barracks, giving him the name Barrie. Since then, an unbreakable bond has formed between the courageous soldier and the adorable pup. Barrie accompanies Sean everywhere, from waking up in the morning to eating, even while he’s working or driving. To keep Barrie safe, Sean created a necklace out of a bulletproof vest and a teddy bear.

Perhaps to many, Sean is seen as the savior of Barrie. However, the truth is that Sean feels indebted to his furry friend. Barrie serves not only as a faithful companion but also as a source of solace for Sean amid the brutality of war. With Barrie by his side, Sean finds joy and respite from his Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD); a severe emotional condition that affects many soldiers who have experienced the horrors of combat.

Sean shared with This Morning that the young boys in Syria have a great fondness for playing and coaching Barrie, who serves as their source of comfort when they are feeling down. Unfortunately, Sean had to leave Barrie behind when he left for a temporary break in the UK in April 2018. Since his return to Syria was not possible, Sean turned to War Paws, an organization based in Iraq that assists soldiers in finding their lost pets, to bring Barrie to the UK. To help cover the expenses, Sean created a GoFundMe campaign.

In April 2018, War Paws was able to transport Barrie to Iraq where he was vaccinated and examined before being taken to Jordan. The pup was then isolated for two months and re-examined before a failed attempt to move him to England due to lost documents resulted in Barrie being taken to Paris. Finally, after seven long months apart, Sean was able to reunite with his furry companion at Charles de Gaulle airport in November. Although Barrie had grown considerably since they last saw each other, he still recognized Sean and the reunion was the happiest moment of his life.