A disabled veteran in Texas is receiving support from firefighters and community members after leaving his dog tied outside Fort Worth Fire Department Station 8 with a handwritten letter asking for help. The veteran, identified only as Tom, wrote that he had been homeless for about 20 months and called surrendering his dog Jake the hardest choice he’d ever made. Firefighters discovered Jake beside a three-page letter titled “Safe Place,” and Lieutenant Sam Grief said the note was clearly written out of love.
After the story spread online, the department’s H.O.P.E. Team began working to help Tom rebuild his life. According to the fire department, Bennett’s Camping Center donated an RV camper for Tom to live in, while firefighters assisted with transportation to medical appointments, meetings, and setting up the camper in a safe location. The department says Tom has been overwhelmed by the kindness he’s received and he believes surrendering Jake was the right choice.
Jake has since been officially adopted by firefighters at Station 8 and now lives at the firehouse. Firefighters say the dog has settled in quickly, spending time with the crew and greeting firefighters when they return from calls. In a social media update, the department says both Tom and Jake’s lives have been changed for the better by the events that followed the letter outside the station.
Source: SUNNY SKYZ
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