Soldiers Reunite with Stray Dogs They Fell in Love with During Deployment and Are Now Adopting as Pets

Paws of War organized an emotional reunion for five dogs and the four soldiers who cared for them while deployed in the Middle East

Four soldiers returned from their deployment to a joyful reunion.

On Thursday, June 27, Paws of War hosted a reunion event for the soldiers and stray dogs they met while being deployed in the Middle East.

Army Specialist Michael Branch, Specialist Kai Garnette, Sgt. Ryan Kissoon, and Specialist Naraly Garcia were overwhelmed with joy during the event the not-for-profit organized.

The soldiers and their pups met at the Hampton Inn Brooklyn/Downtown in New York, and "there wasn't a dry eye or a tail not wagging as they all came together," according to a statement shared with PEOPLE.

Related: U.S. Soldier Hopes to Relocate 3-Legged Dog from the Middle East: Leaving Him 'Would Go Against My Moral Code'

The soldiers were thrilled to finally see the dogs and snuggle them months after being apart.

Army Specialist Michael Branch said at the event that he was "so happy to see" Socks, one of the dogs he met while deployed. The dog recognized Branch when they reunited.

“Hey baby, great reunion, you remember me,” Branch gushed, adding that the dog "looks great.”

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Specialist Kai Garnette waited eagerly to see pup King again. “It’s like memory being out over there, having him back,” Garnette said. “I can tell this is great emotional support for me.”

Sgt. Ryan Kissoon, meanwhile, finally got to see Milo and Shilo, two canines who brought him "a sense of relief, of friendship, of love,” he said.

Related: Therapy Dog Who Comforted U.S. Troops in the Middle East Now Needs Help Continuing Healing Work

Specialist Naraly Garcia was overjoyed when she saw Hades.  “Hopefully he likes his new surroundings,” she said. “He’ll be taken well taken care of."

"Thank God these dogs were not left behind and that Paws of War was there to get them to America."

According to a press release, Paws of War "worked tirelessly" to bring home seven dogs that were rescued in the Middle East in January. American soldiers who were stationed there rescued the dogs, cared for them and bonded with them.

They contacted Paws of War to help bring them to the United States since these types of rescues can be complex.

Five of the seven dogs — King, Hades, Shilo, Socks, and Milo — were reunited with the soldiers in New York after living in foster care.

The remaining two dogs are headed to the Western United States to join the soldiers there.

Derek Cartwright, a disabled veteran with Paws of War who participated in this rescue mission, spoke about the process of getting the dogs from the Middle East, calling it a "painstaking process."

“When they couldn’t keep them on base any longer, they reached out to us and our teams raced to save them," he said. "They were safely fostered while we were working to get them on flights."

As per the press release, Cartwright, a Paws of War volunteer and veteran with the U.S. Army 82nd Airborne, organized the emotional reunion.

Paws of War, which was founded in 2014, "has provided over 950 Veterans and First Responders with service and support animals rescued from kill shelters for over 10 years and has placed over 800 animals for adoption."

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