This UPS Driver Adopted a Sweet Pit Bull on Her Route After His Guardian Passed Away (PHOTOS)

UPS delivery drivers must see hundreds of dogs and cats on their routes. Despite all the scenes we’ve seen on television over the years featuring a grouchy mailman and a dog who won’t stop barking, there are dozens of sweet stories of mailmen who befriend animals on their route. And now we can add one more story to the list!

Katie Newhouse has been a UPS driver for 15 years and one year ago, she met a dog on her route who changed everything. There’s a Facebook page called UPS Dogs, where drivers post pictures and stories about the dogs they encounter on their routes and that’s where Katie first told Leo’s story.

“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 page. 

UPS Dogs

That’s right! After Leo’s guardian, Tina, passed away, Katie adopted the gorgeous boy. 

Right from the start, Katie and Leo shared a bond. Katie told Pup Journal that Leo, “…would hear my truck come into the condo complex and start barking and scratching at the door to come down to the truck. He would love to come into the truck and go into the back to look around. I remember one day I was driving up one of my busier streets and they were coming down the street and all of a sudden there was Leo popping his head out the passenger side barking at me! He barked all the way down the street!”

Sadly, because of the many misconceptions surrounding Pit Bulls, Leo’s size and appearance made people in the condo complex nervous. Residents would tell Tina to put a muzzle on him when he was outdoors. Katie was close to Tina and was in the process of helping her find legal representation to fight for her and Leo’s rights. But when Katie returned from vacation, she faced the sad news that Tina had passed away. Since Tina’s son is in the Marine and unable to care for a dog, Katie quickly jumped on the opportunity, despite having three dogs of her own.

Katie confesses that Leo still misses Tina, “I do know that Leo missed Tina when he first got here. 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.”

But thankfully, Leo was adopted into a wonderful home and has three dog friends who he loves to play with. If more people would just give Pit Bulls a chance, they can be very loving companions, and in some communities, they have even become heroes, saving people and their guardians from harm. Share Katie and Leo’s touching story and help educate your friends and family about these amazing dogs!

Image source: Katie Newshouser/Facebook