Deployed soldiers do things for their country most people can’t grasp. They’re away from their families, putting their lives at risk every day to protect folks back home, and they’re often lonely.

One soldier named Sgt. Nico found a forever friend in a dog named Mia, and he’s pleading to bring her home to America so he can care for her and give her some of the companionship she’s given him.

When Mia showed up at Sgt. Nico’s base, she was “frail with not much life left in her,” he explains (quote via Fox News).

The pup immediately took a liking to Sgt. Nico, and soon started following him around wherever he went. Nico says that others on the base took a liking to her, as well, and they started to feed and give her water daily.

There is actually a non-profit called Paws of War, which according to their website, trains and places shelter dogs to serve and provide independence to U.S. military veterans who suffer from the emotional effects of war.

On their front page of their website is the story of Sgt. Nico and Mia, and how the organization is trying everything in their power to bring her home to be with him.

Per Fox News, the soldiers suspect that Mia’s parents had been killed, so Nico is grateful that she found his way to him. In FaceTime chats with his family back home, Nico shows Mia off to his kids, and they’re in love, too.

“My son has been wanting [a] dog for the longest time. Our FaceTime conversations shifted away from me and focused only on Mia,” Nico says.

This adds to the pressure of wanting to get Mia to the States safely — how can Sgt. Nico show up back at home without her?

“We woke up together, we went to bed together,” he says of the impact this unlikely friendship has had. “She brought some normalcy to a faraway place. She brought comfort to my other team members on base, and it was just what we needed.”

Paws of War is more than on board in helping:

“I can’t think of anything more rewarding” than giving Sgt. Nico and his family this “one dream,” PoW co-founder Robert Misseri says.

Man’s best friend turned out to be a saving grace for these deployed soldiers. Now, they want to return the favor and save Mia’s life. You can help too, if you’d like – Paws of War accepts donations here.

Evan Paul is the host of Taste of Country Nights, a syndicated radio show heard on more than 130 country radio stations nationwide, every night from 7PM to midnight. The radio show reaches over 21 million listeners per week. He plays the best new country music and interviews today’s top stars, like Luke Combs, Morgan Wallen, Kenny Chesney, Miranda Lambert, Dan + Shay, Keith Urban, Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, Chris Stapleton, Lady A, + more!

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