Homeless pit bull begged this UPS driver to adopt him when his owner passed away
The bond between dogs and their owners are often unbreakable. So, when an owner passes away, it can leave a void in a dog’s life. In many cases, this can leave the dog sad and depressed, with little desire to eat or do anything.
Occasionally, though, a dog makes a connection with someone else, which makes moving on a little easier. That is what happened between a pit bull, named Leo, and the neighborhood UPS driver.
Making friends with the dogs on her route
A UPS driver for 15 years, Katie Newhouser loved to greet the dogs who lived along her route. Usually, she would bring dog treats and give them a hug. This was how Newhouser met Leo, a pit bull who belonged to Tina Rummel. Rummel lived alone, and Leo would be there to greet Newhouser whenever she made a delivery to his home.
“They were very, very close and did everything together,” Newhouser told PEOPLE. “I don’t think that dogs ever forget anyone who they have been that close to.”
A solid friendship develops
Newhouser’s kindness and Leo’s friendly nature led to the UPS driver and the dog forming a solid friendship over the years.
“He would hear my truck come into the condo complex and start barking and scratching at the door to come down to the truck. He would love to come into the truck and go into the back to look around.”
One day, though, Newhouser learned that Rummel had died through a Facebook post. And while Rummel did have a son, Cannon, who could take care of Leo, he was far away performing his duties as a marine. Leo was left to grieve all alone.
Newhouser wanted to help Leo out
Worried about Leo, Newhouser was wondering what she could do to help him. The pit bull decided to hop into her vehicle on that fateful day, grabbing ahold of her and refusing to let go. She couldn’t just leave him there alone, so she offered to foster Leo until Cannon’s return.
Providing a temporary home for Leo
“It was probably confusing for him at first, [but] he has adapted well,” says Newhouser. “He and his brother Moose are inseparable. Bailey, his sister, has taken a while to come around, [but] they actually play now … once Leo was introduced into the house, the whole vibe changed.”
Once in Newhouser’s home, Leo quickly bonded with her other dogs. He had an easygoing nature that made him fit in well with her family of pets, and soon he became an important piece of their lives. Even though he was happier, Leo still mourned the loss of his former owner, but Newhouser’s other dogs always seemed to cheer him up.
Adopting Leo permanently
As the day approached for him to leave Newhouser and her family of dogs, Newhouser realized that she just couldn’t let him go. She offered to adopt Leo, and Cannon agreed. Now Leo could be in a forever home where he could feel safe with his new doggie siblings.
For more on Leo and Newhouser, check out the video below.
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