An Iraq War veteran has shared his story on how his bicycle chain art helped save his pet dog. 30 year-old Ryan Beamish started mountain biking five years ago to help with his Post Traumatic Stress Disorder following his time in Iraq and in 2014 he welded sections of a bike chain to make a key holder for his home.

When Ryan noticed that the welded bike chain looked like a Saguaro Cactus, he began creating small sculptures from leftover and disused bike chains. After sharing images of his art online, Ryan received a number of orders and made around $1000 in just one month.

Ryan then discovered that his dog, Duke needed crucial knee surgery and the money he had made from the bike chain cactuses helped to pay for his ‘best-friends’ operation!

Ryan is still welding his bike chain cactuses and is selling them through Facebook as DukesSaguaros. Take a look here.