When we think about dogs, we usually think about them happily strolling by the river, playing with a frisbee with their owners, and barking at a cat in a tree. We imagine them having happy lives, getting treats and delicious snacks when they learn new tricks, and always running around with the biggest smile on their cute faces. However, sometimes that story is not what happens, sometimes these lovely dogs do not have a loving home and instead live in the facilities waiting to be adopted. One of such dogs was Reggie, an adorable black Lab who needed a new home and got it in a very interesting way.

One man decided that he needed a dog in his life after buying a new home, and he went to a dog shelter to find a perfect furry companion. He met Reggie and took him home, but despite his best efforts, it wasn’t really smooth sailing for them. People from the shelter told him that Reggie would take a couple of weeks to get adjusted to the new environment, but it seemed that sweet Reg and his owner were not getting along at all. Reggie seemed only to be interested in his toys, mainly the tennis balls that he always carried in his mouth. The shelter did pack some of Reggie’s stuff that his owner disregarded at first but later found in the mess of unboxed things from his move.

He tried to make Reggie feel more comfortable at his new home and teach him some tricks and commands, but all the efforts seemed futile. Then, one day, Reggie’s owner found his old pad which made sweet Reg excited. He also found a sealed envelope and got curious. The letter was from Reggie’s former owner who, sadly, had to give him up for adoption. The previous owner stated that Reggie loves tennis balls, he knows basic commands and had all of his shots. He does not like going to the vet, but he loves car rides, and he always accompanied him on his car rides. The owner gave the shelter the name Reggie because he could not bear to give them his real name, Tank. He does not have any family, and he was deployed to Iraq, unable to take care of his sweet dog until his return. He also said that he instructed the Army to make the call and put Tank up for adoption only in the case of, well, his death. The letter was signed with the name Paul Mallory, a brave soldier who had to give up his beloved dog to fight for his country.