CLEVELAND -- A mother of a fallen Marine said she wants to hug the last thing that her son hugged before he was killed in Iraq -- Beans the dog.

The mixed-breed dog was looked after by many of the 3rd Battalion, 25th Marines based out of Brook Park who were killed two weeks ago, NewsChannel5 reported.

Hundreds of people have helped raise money to bring Beans home. Now one family is one step closer to doing that.

Members of the Salzer family are animal lovers. They take strays into their Portage County home and they have fallen in love with Beans.

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One photograph shows beans held by Lance Cpl. Jeff Boskovitch, who was killed Aug. 1 in a sniper attack.

The dog has emotional ties to the unit and to Marines' homefront families.

"One mom said to me, 'I know in my heart that my son last hugged that dog before going out on patrol that he didn't come back from. I need to hug that dog,'" Jennifer Salzer said.

Military regulations prohibit the unit from bringing the dog home. So the Salzers are trying to raise money for commercial transportation.

A 5 On Your Side account was set up at Key Bank to raise money to bring Beans home. It's called "The Beans Foundation."