Seorang tentara asal Inggris dan anak anjing yang dia selamatkan dari perang Suriah akhirnya dapat dipersatukan, setelah selama 7 bulan terpisah. The Sun mengabarkan pada Rabu (7/11/2018), Sean Laidlaw (30) dapat memeluk erat anak anjing itu di Bandara Charles Gaulle di Paris, Perancis, pada Sabtu lalu. Sebelumnya, dia ditempatkan di Suriah pada Februari lalu sebagai tim penjinak bom.
Saat bertugas, dia mendengar suara tangisan anak anjing, yang selanjutnya diberi nama Barrie. Hewan mungil itu dikelilingi oleh puing-puing bangunan. Sejak itu, mereka melintasi lima negara, dua zona perang, 4.800 km, dan 12 jam perjalanan agar bisa bersama kembali. "Saya memang yang menyelamatkan hidup Barrie, tapi saya merasa dia menyelamatkan hidup saya," ucapnya.
Selama berada di zona perang, Sean kerap kesepian di kamar di kampnya. Semua berubah setelah kehadiran Barrie yang menjadi teman bermain dan berlatihnya. "Anda bisa membayangkan betapa buruknya Suriah, kembali ke kamp, kemudian melatihnya selama tiga jam, membawanya jalan-jalan," tutur Sean. "Dia memberi saya sedikit normalitas, dia tentu membuat saya waras," imbuhnya.
Awalnya, Barrie menolak Sean, namun pria itu tak menyerah untuk selalu membawakannya makanan dan minuman. Barrie menghabiskan setiap hari mengikuti Sean di Raqqa, bahkan dia memiliki rompi anti peluru.
Ketika sudah tiba untuk meninggalkan Suriah, Sean menghubungi War Paws, sebuah badan amal berbasis di Irak yang khusus membawa anjing dari daerah dilanda perang. Barrie dibawa ke Irak pada April lalu untuk divaksinasi dan diperiksa oleh War Paws sebelum diterbangkan ke Yordania pada Agustus. Selanjutnya, anjing tersebut dikarantina selama dua bulan. "Namun kemudian berlalu-lalu dan dia tumbuh dari anak anjing menjadi anjing dewasa," kata Sean. "Sulit bagi saya karena khawatir dia akan sangat berbeda," ucapnya.
Rencana awal, Barrie akan diterbangkan ke London pada akhir Oktober. Namun, sejumlah dokumen hilang sehingga dia tidak diizinkan berangkat. Sean siap terbang ke Yordania untuk menjemputnya. War Paws meyakinkannya dan berhasil mengirim Barrie dan satu anjing lainnya dari Yordania ke Paris.
Translate to English:
A British soldier and puppy that he saved from the Syrian war could finally be united, after 7 months apart. The Sun reported on Wednesday (11/07/2018), Sean Laidlaw (30) could hold the puppy tightly at Charles Gaulle Airport in Paris, France, on Saturday. Previously, he was placed in Syria in February as a bomb disposal team.
While on duty, he heard the sound of a puppy crying, which was later given the name Barrie. The tiny animal is surrounded by building debris. Since then, they have crossed five countries, two war zones, 4,800 km, and 12 hours of travel to be together again. "I really saved Barrie's life, but I felt he saved my life," he said.
While in the war zone, Sean is often lonely in rooms in his camp. All changed after the presence of Barrie who became his playmate and practice. "You can imagine how bad Syria is, return to the camp, then train it for three hours, take it for a walk," Sean said. "He gave me a bit of normality, he certainly made me sane," he added.
Initially, Barrie refused Sean, but the man did not give up to always bring him food and drinks. Barrie spends every day following Sean in Raqqa, even he has a bulletproof vest.
When it arrived to leave Syria, Sean contacted War Paws, an Iraqi-based charity that specifically carries dogs from war-torn areas. Barrie was taken to Iraq in April to be vaccinated and inspected by War Paws before being flown to Jordan in August. Furthermore, the dog was quarantined for two months. "But then it passed and he grew from a puppy to an adult dog," said Sean. "It's difficult for me because I'm afraid he will be very different," he said.
Initial plans, Barrie will be flown to London in late October. However, a number of documents were lost so he was not allowed to leave. Sean is ready to fly to Jordan to pick him up. War Paws convinced him and managed to send Barrie and one other dog from Jordan to Paris.
