There are countless touching reunion videos and stories on the internet of men and women in uniform who return home after a deployment, and this one will definitely warm your heart too. This soldier couldn’t wait to reunite with his four-footer, although the situation is definitely a bit unique.

Mostly, he was afraid that the pooch wouldn’t recognize him anymore.

Soldier Nick Pierzchalski was deployed in Iraq for the better part of a year.

Pierzchalski was a pilot for the Blackhawk helicopters in the country, and it was a part of his service duty for the Florida Army National Guard.

While he was deployed, he and his squad suddenly encountered someone very special – a lost dog wandering in the Iraqi desert who he quickly fell in love with.

“This dog ran up to me, ran up to our group, and befriended us immediately. It brought great morale to me and the whole group, felt like a piece of home,” Pierzchalski said in an interview with Fox 13 News. “She’d hang out with us. She was constantly with us.”

The man then took the pup under his wing and even built her a kennel in their hangar. He named her Airys.

From the day these two met in Iraq, they’ve seen each other every single day while Pierzchalski was deployed. The end of his service was bittersweet for the man – even though he could finally return home, he knew that he’d have to leave Airys behind.

The soldier thought that he’d never see his favorite four-footer again, but the animal organization SPCA International and Operation Baghdad Pups stepped in.

About three months after the soldier returned home, arrangements were made so that Airys could come to Florida, right in the arms of the soldier who cared for her all those months overseas.

Of course, the soldier couldn’t wait until his best buddy was there with him, although he did fear that Airys wouldn’t recognize him anymore after all those months.

As soon as Airys arrived and was released from her kennel, she ran straight towards her human owner, jumping in his arms.

She clearly still recognized him and couldn’t wait to get and give some endless snuggles and cuddles. Her excited and wagging tail really says it all. Fox News was there to capture the entire moment on tape, and it’s just absolutely heartwarming and adorable to witness.

“You’re a lot bigger,” the man said to the dog while he gave her a big hug.

“I can’t even put it into words, I really can’t. I didn’t think I was going to get her home, and they made it possible, everybody made it possible, and it’s just unbelievable,” Pierzchalski concluded.

This is definitely an absolutely beautiful reunion story and the moment these two saw each other will be something neither of them will forget. Airys has settled in nicely with the Pierzchalski family and absolutely loves spending time in her Brooksville home – definitely a nice change compared to the Iraqi deserts.

Airys finally has something that she deserves: a loving owner and a warm place to call her forever home.

Don’t forget to check out the beautiful reunion between these two below.

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Source: FOX 13 News – Tampa Bay