Katie Newhouser is a UPS driver in Rancho Cucamonga, California. Whenever she would pull up to the apartment complex Leo lived in, he would greet her and jump in her truck. And when she found out that Leo’s mom died, she volunteered to foster him, but he became so bonded with his new brother that she decided to make the arrangement permanent!
“I met Leo and his mom Tina on my route – they lived in condo complex that I deliver to,” Katie told Life With Dogs. “He would always bark for her to let him come down to the truck to see me. He would hop into my truck and make himself at home!”
About a year ago, Katie had gone on vacation, and when she returned to her route she noticed Tina’s son, Canon, leaving the complex with furniture in the back of his truck. Tina had told her that the association was hassling her about Leo – residents had complained that he should be wearing a muzzle (despite him being a friendly boy) – so she thought Tina was moving. When Katie checked the woman’s Facebook page, she was sad to discover that she had died.
Canon was completing training for the Marines, so Katie reached out to him and offered to take Leo in until he returned. But during the time she had him, he had fallen in love with her Lab mix, Moose, and both agreed that they couldn’t be separated.
“He realized that Leo had bonded with my dog Moose and he couldn’t go back to being a single dog.”
In addition to Moose, Leo now has three other siblings: a terrier mix named Bailey, and two cats, Madison and Mocha. Though Leo has adjusted very well to his new family, it was clear that in the beginning he really missed his mom.
“At first it was a little sad, he would whine a bit at night. I believe that he missed Tina,” Katie explained. “He is the biggest cuddle bug that you will ever meet. There are many times when I wake up and he is resting his head on mine.”
You probably didn’t know (I certainly didn’t), but there is an awesome page on Facebook called UPS DOGS. It’s literally just all the amazing dogs UPS drivers meet while making deliveries. Katie posted about Leo there, and her story spread like wildfire.
Until getting Leo, she had no idea just how bad the stigma surrounding pit bulls was, and now happily advocates for them by telling people about what a darling Leo is, and how much personality he has.
“He love to snag things off of the counter and have you chase him,” Katie said. “He is a character! He really is the best dog.”
Leo is clearly no longer wearing the prong collar here. ?
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That is awesome… I saved one pit last year from a kill shelter and he had been fought.. And last week I almost hit a pit by the highway near my house… I took him home took the 100 some ticks off him and took him to the shelter to see if he was someone’s dog… nobody claimed him.. And when I called to check on him They said they wernt sure how long they would keep because they were full.. So needless to say I went and got him.. They are truly amazing animals and my two also have bonded and I was told my original.dog would never socialize with other dogs because of his past.
Good for you being a compassionate human being and helping these animals.
Amazing loving and caring women, this world needs more people like her. As a pet parent to 3 bullies and Gsd pit mix I can vouch for thier love of thier family and personality traits. These are amazing loving dogs and it’s such a shame people still jumble them all up to 1 stereotype like the ignorant person above has posted.. Enjoy your new life Leo with your new amazing loving family.
Very touching story. Thank you for sharing this. This breed is so misunderstood. Leo looks really happy in his new home! What a handsome gentle giant.
I do wish that backyard breeders would stop breeding these dogs, not because of the breed but because so many of them end up in the wrong hands. I would never buy a pit bull, but have adopted more than one pit mix with zero regrets. They are fantastic and extremely affectionate dogs.
That’s my boi LEO! Made it in the paper never knew it got to the news
love HIM and all that he is, there ARE NO BAD DOGS!!!!!! BAD OWNERS DOING VERY BAD THINGS TO THESE BEAUTIFUL AFFECTION CREATURES! Hurting, starving and provoke them to defend themselves.. People badly stereotype these amazing babies. they lean in with all there strength and give you so much love and affection. Its all ANY of them want. Not to be Abused!!!!!
All creatures of God deserve LOVE & PITBULLS ARE SERIOUSLY VIOLATED FOR JUST LIVING because of the breed.
People please meet these beautiful babies and love them you will be amazed at the INTENSE LOVE they have for humans,!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
THERE ARE NO BAD DOGS – ONLY BAD PEOPLE TREATING THEM HORRENDOUSLY!
IN LIFE ‘YOU GET WHAT YOU GIVE!”
LEAVE PITBULLS ALONE AND EXPAND YOUR HEART,
you stereotypical people probably still segregate blacks and whites, and have a heartful of prejudice! go to any type of church, open your heart!
Dogs read people very well, and if you got the impression something was seeing into your soul THAT BEAUTIFUL CREATURE SIZED YOU UP!!!!! IN TRUTH! (Any Dog!)
STOP BEING NASTY AND SPREADING continued RUMORS! They are AMAZING!!!! And you dont know the history of their lives, to judge a ANY creatures DEFENSE TO LIVE WITH OUT HARM AND JUDGEMENT!
WHAT A BEAUTIFUL STORY TO THE UPS EMPLOYEES, Thank you for acknowledging LOVE when its right in FRONT OF YOU!
Im so sorry his mom died and you can see the pain he carried from that heartbreak and now you filled it with love. You are AMAZING and him and your others are all GIVING YOU BACK THE LOVE YOU GIVE THEM.
SICK OF PREJUDICE PEOPLE!
GOD BLESS ALL OF YOU for your open hearts and minds!
the unconditional love is something no human could ever express truly wonderful beautiful creatures of God!
Thank you so much for a great article.
Stray Dog Adoption Story by Volunteer Woman Goes Viral
http://aoptimismweb.com/philadelphia-shelter-stray-dog-adoption-story-by-volunteer-woman-goes-viral/
You bet, awesome story – most pit bulls are sweet energetic & love people! I’ve owned 2 of them, one would go out of it way in order to avoid conflict w/other (aggressive) dogs while the other (Drummer), well, not so much.
We lost our Chow mixed (Lab) earlier this year so later (after mourning ‘Wily’ we adopted a Shepard (not sure what other breed he is & he was a bit sick w/a cold etc) but all that to say this, this dog has been a blessing! While he’ll never replace Wily (our black Chow) he’s on the way of making new memories along w/being a great addition to our family!
Folk’s, losing any pet can be tough, really hard but adopting another pet isn’t sacrilege, no pet can replace the previous one but the new pet helps w/the mourning.
There’s a lot of dogs cats etc that needs loving adoptions and they are truly our best of friends – they love us unconditionally!
Next weeks news; Pit bull eats UPS driver.
Yes – the UPS adopter may end up in the news. That is what l was thinking, too. How many stories do we have to hear about these dogs killing a child, pulling someone from their car, jumping on the owner’s bed in the middle of the night and tearing them apart ?
Oh my God 40 years if you never ever had to worry about him sneaking on my bed at night and ripping out my throat. You people need to get a grip these are dogs not demons their dogs they don’t deliberately do evil things like humans .
They are not for ignorant lazy people they need to be trained in engaged with a change in the backyard.
Keep on writing and chignugg away!
Keep on good writing !Very Nice!!!
what a heartwarming story 😉
cant get over it
i love this site
been on here for long time now reading
A really good answer, full of raitynaltio!
I don’t even know what to say, this made things so much eaisre!