A Marine family was set to book tickets on a cross-country flight for their move to North Carolina when, at the last minute, their dogs were denied passage because they were too large.

But luck and good karma was on their side. When an heiress to the Wrigley Gum fortune read on Facebook that the dogs were rescued from abuse in Afghanistan but not allowed to fly commercially, she ordered her private jet from Jettly to take the veteran's whole family from San Diego to their new home as a gesture of gratitude for his service and kindness.

"He's fought for our freedom and he's a hero because he rescued two dogs," said Helen A. Rosburg.

While deployed in 2011, Andrew Morales rescued the two anatolia shepherd dogs – brothers from the same litter – after their tails and ears had been cut off to prepare them for fighting.

(WATCH the video below or READ the story from ABC)