While in the city of Raqqa, which had been destroyed by war, we received a distress call from a school that had been left in ruins. It was already February 2018, four months after the city had been liberated. However, as experienced bomb disposal experts, we were cautious not to rush in immediately, as we were aware that the screams of children could be used as a trap by ISIS.

As we stumbled upon a sturdy concrete base, our eyes fell on a trembling Chihuahua who had survived the brutal massacre of his kin. It was heart-wrenching to witness the aftermath of the war, and in that moment, we decided to name the little survivor ‘Barry’.

At first, I was quite scared of dogs. Nevertheless, I decided to offer Barry a biscuit, holding it with gloves on. He nibbled it carefully while I petted him gently. Afterwards, I made sure that he had enough food and water and pledged to come back later.

As you continue to read, you will find a video presented below for your viewing pleasure.

Barry instilled in me a sense of optimism that had eluded me ever since I completed my service in the military in 2014. After returning home, I grappled with the consequences of combat and various personal challenges.

My visit to Syria for my friend’s funeral rejuvenated my inner warrior. So, when I got the chance to join the Syrian team, I jumped at it.

After a month of getting to know Barry, I found myself sifting through the debris of the school in search of him. Thankfully, my fellow colleague called out his name and I was overjoyed to see him. As I reached out my hand, I softly stroked his head and it just felt like the natural thing to do.

In order to gain Barry’s confidence, I decided to take a chance and put my trust in him. View the video for more details.