A mix-up at JFK? Well, we can’t say we’re surprised.

But what has bothered thousands of readers over the last few weeks is that it involved a dog a soldier was trying to save.

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. A.J. Kirrish deployed to the Middle East at the beginning of 2020. He met Harley in Jordan where she was the only puppy in an abandoned litter to survive.

The men on Kirrish’s base nursed her to health and Kirrish himself took responsibility for the pup and they became best buds.

“Throughout the entire deployment, she would be one thing I’d love to see, come home every day to,” Kirrish told ABC 7 NY in early September. “If we were out on mission, I’d come back, and before I could even take my body armor off. She was all over me crying. Trying to hug me just wanted love from me, and it was an amazing feeling.”

Kirrish enlisted the help of Paws of War, a Long Island-based organization that matches rescue dogs with veterans, to bring Harley to the U.S. where she would act as his emotional support animal now that he has retired.

But when the pup landed at JFK Airport on Aug. 24, officials denied her entry, claiming that her vaccination paperwork was invalid. Paws of War said it was a minor error that has now been corrected.

Kirrish and his wife were devastated. According to Paws of War:

“Back in California A.J. and his wife had made the house ready despite working double shifts fighting the wildfires in California, and had even installed a fence around their yard. They were so excited to welcome Harley into their family regardless of the time or expense.”

If Harley were to be sent back to Jordan, she would likely be euthanized, a thought that Kirrish can’t stomach. He, along with Paws for War, has also enlisted the help of U.S. Representatives Kathleen Rice (NY-04), Peter King (NY-02), Gregory Meeks (NY-05), Lee Zeldin (NY-01), and Tom Suozzi (NY-03) who have called for the CDC to intervene.

“If Harley is sent back to Jordan, she will almost certainly will be euthanized. Paws of War is happy to provide any clarifying documentation that the CDC deems necessary. Additionally, they are willing to organize for a veterinarian to administer an additional rabies vaccine in airport quarantine, just to be safe. As Harley was designated to be a companion to an American veteran and given her likely death without your intervention, we ask that you strongly consider making an exception for Harley so that she may continue on to her new home,” the representatives wrote in the letter.

Kirrish has been on pins and needles all month wondering what would happen to the beloved dog.

“They are saying that she possibly may have rabies, and that her paperwork isn’t lining up,” he told ABC 7 NY. “If the CDC here in the United States doesn’t want to deal with her. I can only imagine her fate, when she arrives in a country overseas, with the tag of possible rabies.”

Paws of War has asked the CDC if they can re-vaccinate and quarantine Harley until she’s cleared to enter the country.

“We will do anything that they want us to do,” said Paws of War co-founder Robert Misseri. “We’re here fighting for a soldier who spent 10 years fighting for our country. This soldier saved this girl Harley in a, in a war-torn area, and he doesn’t deserve it. His wife doesn’t deserve it and Harley surely doesn’t deserve to have to go back to the Middle East.”

Sadly, Harley wasn’t the only dog on the flight to have her paperwork questioned.

A dog named Berrie was on the same flight and was denied entry. But Congressman Suozzi has secured her transfer to a veterinarian where she will be held for quarantine until September 25, after which she’ll be sent to Paws Unite People for 6 months before going up for adoption. There’s already a waitlist for her.

And there’s good news for Harley as well!

Rep. Rice announced just a few days later, on September 4th, that Kirrish and Harley would be reunited after she gets a new rabies vaccination and is quarantined for 28 days.

“Words cannot describe the appreciation that my wife and I have for all the hard work and support from every single person involved,” Kirrish said. “We are eternally humbled and grateful. We are counting down the days to be reunited with our little girl, Harley.”

Be sure to scroll down below to hear more from Kirrish about his fight to save Harley.

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Source: ABC 7 NY (1), ABC 7 NY (2),