There’s a special bond that forms between humans and animals, even if they aren’t our own pets.
The joy of being around them is universal, and their absence can leave a void that’s hard to fill.
After all, nothing brightens your day more than a sweet four-legged friend.
John Keffer, a dedicated UPS driver in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, experienced this firsthand.
Newsweek highlighted his touching story, shedding light on the deep connections that can form in the most unexpected places.
John does more than make deliveries.
His daily routine involves traversing nearly 30 miles across Pittsburgh, delivering packages to both businesses and homes.
But it’s not just the packages and people that make his day; it’s the dogs he meets along the way.
To ensure he’s always a welcome guest, John began carrying milk bones with him.
Initially, he hadn’t thought of this gesture, but after hearing from fellow drivers about their practice of gifting dog treats, he decided to adopt the idea.
“When I first I started to deliver, never thought about giving milk bones. But I found out from other drivers that they would give dog biscuits to the dogs on their route,” John shared with Newsweek.
“So I started to bring them in my lunch also. It started out as a sandwich bag full, then a quart size bag full daily, and now I am up to a pocket full and a quart size bag daily.”
Among the many dogs John met, one named Rosie held a special place.
But one day, instead of the usual wagging tail and eager eyes, John was met with a box of milk bones that had a note attached to it.
It was addressed to “Our UPS delivery man” and was from “Rosie.”
John took to TikTok to share the emotional contents of the letter.
The note expressed gratitude for the years of treats and kindness John had shown Rosie.
“Thank you for all the years of deliveries that came with a milkbone for our dog Rosie. She knew she would get a treat each time you came,” the heartfelt message read.
The note then revealed the somber reason behind Rosie’s absence.
“Sadly, Rosie, who was 10 yrs old, had to be put down due to cancer,” it stated.
But it didn’t end there.
The message had one last request for John: “Please take this gift and continue making dogs happy when you deliver packages.”
The emotional letter deeply moved John.
In fact, he was so heartbroken over the loss of Rosie that it had him shedding tears.
It goes to show how much pets (even if they’re not our own) impact our lives.
Reflecting on his experiences, John said,
“When you deliver to someone once a week or every day, you get used to their ‘fur babies.’ Even though you may only see them for a moment, doesn’t mean that they don’t leave their paw prints on your heart.”
It’s not surprising that this story has stirred the internet’s heart as well.
Grab a tissue, and press play on the video below to get a closer look at Rosie’s final gift!
Please SHARE this with your friends and family.
@wbane3 When you lose a pet on your route that you see everyday for years. It hits has hard as losing your own! Rest in peace Rosie! I will miss you! #fypシ #upsdriver #upsdogs #pets #xyzbca #foryoupage ♬ original sound – Wbane3
