A Soldier’s Best Friend

It took seven months, but U.S. Army Reserve Sgt. Tracy McKithern was reunited with Erby, the dog she saved in Iraq.

The puppy seemed abused when she arrived at Tracy’s military base in Erbil, Iraq. “She came up to me immediately, probably hungry, but gentle,” she said. “I think she was looking for love more than anything else.” When Tracy’s deployment ended, friends sent her links to rescue groups and one, Puppy Rescue Mission, got strangers to donate over $3,500 in expenses. On May 16, they flew Erby to live with Tracy in St. Petersburg, Fla.