The UPS Dogs Facebook page is an adorable page that celebrates the friendships between UPS drivers and the dogs on their route.
Since drivers typically go on the same routes every day, they often form bonds with the pups they meet. The drivers will often bring treats or toys for their favorite dogs, and the pups reward them with kisses!
A UPS driver named Katie Newhouser absolutely loved hanging out with the dogs on her route. She grew particularly close with a big, lovable pit bull named Leo.
Katie also became close with Leo’s mom, Tina. Tina told Katie that her son had found Leo when he was a puppy. Leo was very young and tiny, and Tina had to bottle-feed him. Leo thought of Tina as his mother, and the two formed an incredible bond. They did everything together!
“They were very very close and did everything together,” Katie told PEOPLE. “I don’t think that dogs ever forget anyone who they have been that close to.”
In July 2017, Katie saw a heartbreaking Facebook post: Tina had passed away. Katie was devastated by the loss of her friend, and she was also worried about what would happen to Leo. Katie contacted Tina’s son, Cannon, and asked if he was taking the dog. But Cannon was an active duty Marine, and so he couldn’t take Leo in.
And so, Tina decided to adopt Leo herself. She shared the news in a heartwarming post on the UPS Dogs Facebook page.
“This is Leo …. he would always start barking as I pulled into the condo complex……He would always jump into my truck when I stopped…. his owner passed away and now he lives with me,” Katie wrote on the UPS Dogs Facebook page.
Katie already had three dogs, and she worried at first that her pups and Leo wouldn’t get along. But it turned out, she had nothing to worry about! Friendly Leo loved her dogs, and they loved him right back.
“It was probably confusing for him at first, [but] he has adapted well,” says Katie. “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.”
Even though Leo loved Katie and her dogs, it did still take him some time to adjust to her house. He missed his mother Tina terribly.
“Leo missed Tina when he first got here,” Katie said. “He would whine at night before he would fall asleep. It was heartbreaking, really. He still does every once in a while. I know he misses her.”
While Leo will always love Tina, he has thankfully found a wonderful place to call home with a mom and siblings who love him more than anything.
Leo is a sweet, friendly dog who always has a big smile on his face. If you’d like to learn more about Leo and Katie, check out the video below.
Please SHARE this with your friends and family.
