Leo the bulldog would get extremely excited every time UPS carrier Katie Newhouser arrived in her big brown truck at his neighborhood. “Whenever I pulled up at the complex, he would go wild with excitement and want to greet me,” Newhouser remembered. “For some reason, he took a liking to me.” He would always come up to me and start licking my face.
Leo would hop into the truck along with Newhouser, taking in all the scents around him. Newhouser recalled how Leo would stubbornly refuse to leave when it was time to go. Katie had the chance to meet Leo and his owner Tina during one of their walks.
“I met Tina while she was walking Leo and stopped to give him some pets,” Newhouser shared. “That’s how I usually strike up conversations with my customers. If they have a dog, it’s an instant icebreaker for me.” This became a regular occurrence for over a year: Newhouser would show up, and Leo would eagerly greet her with kisses. However, everything took a different turn for Leo in October.
After returning from my vacation, I decided to stop by the complex where I work. As I drove in, I noticed Tina’s son, Cannon, driving out with furniture in his car. It struck me as odd. I gave him a wave as he passed by, and he waved back. I tried calling Tina’s cell phone multiple times, but it always went to voicemail. It wasn’t until I looked at her Facebook profile that I discovered the heartbreaking news – Tina had passed away.
Katie reached out to Tina’s son, Cannon, and volunteered to take care of Leo while he was serving in the Marine Corps. “I told Cannon, ‘I’ll keep Leo until you’re able to come and get him after your training,'” Newhouser shared. “He graciously accepted the offer. The next Saturday, I went to pick up Leo.”
“He came running towards me, barking just like he does when I’m driving my UPS truck,” Newhouser recounted. “Then he hopped right into the truck, as if he thought he was going for a ride because he loves driving. But you could see he was confused.” Leo had a tough time adjusting after Tina’s passing. Katie often woke up in the middle of the night to Leo’s whimpers and cries, missing his owner. Luckily, Leo now has two new fur siblings to hang out with and plenty of love from Katie. After settling into his new home for a few weeks, Leo started to feel more comfortable.
When nobody else was willing, Katie was there for Leo. She welcomed the puppy into her home, showered him with love and made sure he knew he belonged there forever. Our hearts go out to Leo, but we’re thrilled that he found a new family with Katie. Let’s share the joy and spread some positivity!
