Reunion: A Soldier and Her Dog

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Ratchet, the dog from Iraq, welcomes the soldier who rescued him.

Army Specialist Gwen Beberg fought the military to get the dog out of Iraq. Beberg had adopted Ratchet after fellow soldiers rescued him from a pile of burning trash. The pet's unconditional love proved a comfort to Beberg during a difficult stretch.

The two were reunited in Minnesota when Beberg completed her tour of duty, and their happy reunion made it clear that the bond that helped each survive Iraq was mutual.

Friends, family and supporters gathered at the VFW Post to witness the reunion, as well as to pay tribute to Beberg for her service. "I wish every soldier in the world, past, present and future, came home to a welcome like this," she said.

Then she made a pitch for supporting Operation Baghdad Pups, a branch of SPCA International that rescues dogs and cats adopted by U.S. military personnel. More than 50 pets have been relocated to the United States.