A soldier is a rare breed: a person with incalculable courage who risks their life to protect the freedom of others and to keep people out of harm’s way. One soldier in particular, faced an even bigger burden. The man received news of his mother’s passing as he was readying himself for deployment to Iraq. She left her beloved canine companion, named Prinny, to her son in the hopes he would care for her dog as she did. Unfortunately, given his situation, he was unable to fulfill his mother’s request. With great distress, the man made the heart-wrenching decision to place Prinny with [Rescued With Love][1], an Australian non-profit organization that places dogs in new homes. Kae Norman, founder of RWL Melbourne, read the unknown soldier’s letter and was compelled to reach out. Without knowing the military man’s contact information, Norman took to her organization’s [Facebook][2] page. [1]: http://www.rescuedwithlove.org/ [2]: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rescued-With-Love/115166958534041?fref=nf
She wrote: > “Dear Soldier, you don’t know me, but I know of you. I know you were > heading to Darwin and then being deployed to Iraq. You are probably > going through more than what anyone can ever imagine – and I wanted to > ease your mind by letting you know your Mum’s dog Prinny is safe and > happy with us at Rescued With Love. I know your Mum passed away and I > am so sorry for your loss. Losing parents is hell, and to have to give > up Prinny and surrender her to the RSPCA because you had no option > would have been an unbearable burden. I read your surrender form which > came with her paperwork, and my heart broke for you, for Prinny and > for your Mum. You wrote such beautiful things about Prinny, and what a > gorgeous girl she is. You were right, she certainly is. > > We know Prinny is 12 years and 4 months – and it is not easy to rehome > a dog that age, I guess you know that, and thought you would give her > a chance anyway. The RSPCA did their best, and she was with them for > ages – and then a phone call from a kind lady found Prinny on her way > to us – and I want to tell you about her new home. If it’s ok, I want > to tell you a little about that. Prinny was adopted before she even > came to us, because her foster Dad Brendan is a Veteran. He heard > about Prinny’s predicament – and wanted to step up regardless. I asked > he and his wife to just wait and foster her – but it seems I didn’t > need to be cautious at all. Prinny has fallen in love with her Dad, > and he with her, and they are now inseparable, and very, very loved. > > I don’t know where you are, or how to find you to tell you Prinny is > safe. Maybe this will find you. All I know is my throat ached when I > read your writing on that form when you handed her over – and I could > not try to let you know she is safe, and very happy. Stay safe > soldier. Kind regards, Kae Norman, Founder, Rescued With Love Inc.” Her letter posted on January 5, 2015, received over 7,800 Likes and was shared 3,139 times. Within 24 hours, RWL updated the site to notify readers that the soldier had been found. Furthermore, the man who chooses to remain anonymous, will meet with Prinny’s new family when he returns to Australia.