The soldier lost his mother recently and, to compound the grief, was forced to give her beloved dog Prinny to an animal shelter, after receiving deployment orders to Iraq.
In an open letter, Kae Norman, founder of animal rescue team Rescued With Love, articulated the soldier’s pain, and his anguish at leaving Prinny unloved, as he departed for the war zone.
Ms Norman 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.”
Ms Norman said older dogs like Prinny, who is 12 years and 4 months, don’t usually find a new home.
“I guess you know that, and thought you would give her a chance anyway,” she said in the letter. “The RSPCA did their best, and she was with them for ages …”
However, after a phone call to Rescued With Love, Prinny found a new home — with an Army veteran.
“He heard about Prinny’s predicament – and wanted to step up regardless,” Ms Norman said in her letter.
“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.”
She added: “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.”
