Most people would be relieved to find out they didn’t have to return to a dangerous, war-torn country where any number of threats can end your life at any second.
When one former soldier heard he wasn’t returning to duty in Syria, however, he was devastated. It wasn’t because he missed putting his life in danger every day, but because it meant leaving behind the tiny animal that had become his best friend.
10 Years of Service
Sean Laidlaw spent much of his 20s working as a soldier in the British Army. In the 10 years that he was with the Royal Engineers, Laidlaw completed two tours in Afghanistan. After finishing his second tour, Laidlaw returned home to Hornchurch, which is in Essex, England.
Returning to Civilian Life
However, returning home wasn’t as great as Laidlaw imagined it would be and he struggled with his transition back to civilian life. According to the now 30-year-old veteran, he was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder after leaving the Army.
Struggling With PTSD
His family and loved ones tried to be supportive and help him with the transition, but they didn’t understand what he had been through while working as a soldier in a war zone. At one point, Laidlaw decided he wasn’t ready for civilian life.
Back to Work
According to Laidlaw, he found a job as a bomb disposal expert and was sent with a unit to Syria in February of 2018. After arriving in the war-torn country, the 30-year-old spent his days disarming deadly explosive devices.
The School Bombing
One day that February, Laidlaw and his unit had been sent to a school where bombs had been detonated. In the explosions, the building had almost completely collapsed. His job was to assess the school and see if there were any other bombs.
An Unusual Noise
While searching through the rubble of the collapsed school, Laidlaw explained he heard what sounded like whimpering. According to Laidlaw, he carefully located the source of the noise and discovered a small puppy nestled into the rubble.
The Lone Survivor
The puppy, which Laidlaw mistakenly thought was a boy and later named Barrie, was surrounded by her family. Tragically, Barrie’s entire family had all died in the explosion and the Asian Shepherd cross puppy was the only survivor.
A Traumatized Animal
Barrie was understandably shaken from the traumatic explosion. According to Laidlaw, she was extremely wary of him during their first meeting and wouldn’t even let him touch her or pet her. She also refused to leave her dead siblings behind.
Love at First Sight
While Barrie wasn’t sure about the human who had found her, Laidlaw instantly fell in love with the tiny puppy. Even though she had rejected him at first, Laidlaw refused to give up on her. That day, Laidlaw made sure the area was safe and that Barrie wasn’t in any danger.
Earning Barrie’s Trust
After first clearing the area and making sure the rubble was free from explosives, Laidlaw brought Barrie some food and water. Laidlaw didn’t want to leave Barrie there, but she wasn’t ready or willing to leave with someone she didn’t trust. Over the next few days, Laidlaw worked hard to earn Barrie’s trust.
A New Home
Each day, Laidlaw brought Barrie more water and food. According to the bomb disposal expert, Barrie finally started to warm up to him after three days. On that third day, Barrie finally allowed Laidlaw to pick her up and bring her back to the safety of his unit’s camp.
An Instant Bond
“I think as soon as Barrie and I bonded, where I could pick her up, for me she’d already become my dog,” Laidlaw said in a statement reported by the Daily Mail. Once back at camp, Laidlaw and Barrie quickly formed a bond and became inseparable as he cared for her all on his own.
A Welcome Responsibility
Before long, Laidlaw finally realized that Barrie was actually a girl, but decided not to change her name as it had already stuck. After being taken back to camp, Laidlaw started training Barrie and had her sleep in his room. “When we got back to camp, she lived in my room, I looked after her, I was responsible for her,” he explained.
An Unofficial Working Dog
“She slept in my room, I was training her, I was feeding her,” Laidlaw said. Over the next three months, Barrie did everything with her human companion and refused to part his side no matter where he went. At one point, Laidlaw had trained Barrie so well that he even brought her with him to work each day.
A Loyal Companion
“She stayed with me every day all day. She did jobs with me, I’d wake up, she’d come eat with me, she’d then sit in the passenger seat of my car when we drove to Raqqa,” Laidlaw said about the fiercely loyal puppy who insisted on being with him at all times.
Barrie’s Uniform
To protect Barrie as much as possible while at work, Laidlaw even had a special harness made for the puppy. According to Laidlaw, the harness was made from a bullet-proof vest as well as denim fabric and padding from a teddy bear.
Saving Each Other From War
“I feel like it may come across that I saved Barrie’s life, but I feel like she saved mine,” Laidlaw explained. “Working in a war zone, coming back to camp you sit in your room on your own. To have a companion you can play with and train. It kept my mind away from all the things I was seeing and doing out there.”
A Vital Distraction
“You can only imagine how bad Syria is, and to be able to come back to the camp and train her for three hours, take her for a walk, things like that really took my mind away from where I was. It gave me a bit of normality, she definitely kept me sane,” Laidlaw said.
War Paws
“Having a companion is one of the best things to help with PTSD. A dog always makes you happy, always wants to be with you,” the 30-year-old said. At one point, Laidlaw knew he wouldn’t be able to leave Barrie behind so contacted War Paws, a charity in Iraq that helps soldiers bring dogs home and raised £4,500, or about $5,700, to make it happen.
The Contract Cancelation
Barrie was then sent to Iraq to get vaccinated and checked by War Paws vets. She then needed to be quarantined for two months after being sent to Jordan. Meanwhile, Laidlaw went home in April after four months in Syria. It was supposed to be a short leave and Laidlaw planned to be back in Syria to reunite with Barrie. However, his unit’s contract was abruptly canceled and he was told not to return to Syria.
Desperate to Return
“I might be one of the only people who was unhappy not to go back to Syria. I was on the way to the airport with my dad when I got a message telling me not to board my flight and go home,” Laidlaw said. “I thought there might be a security issue, but then I got a call that night saying the contract is canceled and that everyone is being sent back home. I put the phone down and immediately called the charity, I didn’t think of anything else and tried to see how I could get Barrie home.”
A Difficult Seven Months
“It’s very difficult to be apart, my biggest issue was that I never had that moment with her to say goodbye as when I left I thought I’d see her in a couple weeks,” said Laidlaw, who was forced to spend seven months apart from his best friend. “That was hard for me, as I worried she was a totally different dog.” Out of desperation to be reunited with Barrie, Laidlaw prepared to fly to Jordan to get Barrie, but then Louise Hastie, owner of War Paws, agreed to bring Barrie along with two other dogs she was flying from Jordan to Paris.
The Reunion
In early November 2018, Laidlaw drove to Paris and was finally reunited with Barrie. According to the 30-year-old who now owns a gym, he was excited but nervous Barrie would be different or wouldn’t remember him. “Meeting her at the airport, seeing her in the flesh, was one of the best moments of my life. I’ve never been so happy,” he explained.
A Surreal Experience
“It was pure joy when she realized who I was. She’s exactly as she was back in Syria, it was just great to have my dog again. I’d be willing to travel across the whole world to have Barrie with me. Thinking about having Barrie with me now, the life we can have together – it’s surreal,” Laidlaw said.
