U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. A.J. Kirrish served his country during a military deployment to the Middle East, and that’s where he first met a stray dog he named Harley. Sgt. Kirrish and Harley became the best of friends, as she was the last dog in her litter to survive. Thanks to Sgt. Kirrish, brought Harley back to his base and nursed her back to health. When his deployment ended, he asked for Harley to be flown to the United States and become his service dog.
Harley was flown to the United States and landed at JFK International Airport in New York over a week ago. Sgt. Kirrish planned to reunite with his beloved dog who would be a service animal to help him deal with the effects of war. Sadly, the one-year-old pup’s entry to the country was denied. Officials say Harley’s paperwork is invalid and they fear she may have rabies. Paws of War, an organization that matches veterans with rescue dogs, is speaking out on Harley’s behalf.
“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,” Paws of War representatives stated in a letter to officials.
Officials from Paws of War offered to re-vaccinate the dog and keep her quarantined, but so far attempts to access the dog have been unsuccessful. If she is not permitted entry into the United States, Harley will be returned to Jordan where Sgt. Kirrish said “I can only imagine her fate, when she arrives in a country overseas, with the tag of possible rabies.”
Harley’s fate hangs in the balance as the CDC has not budged and Sgt. Kirrish faces the possibility of life without his service dog. We hope this story ends with a happy reunion between Harley and Sgt. Kirrish. For more information, watch the video below.
H/T: ABC7
