Navy sailor's dog was given away while he served. Social media led to a reunion

USA Today

06-06-2025

Navy sailor's dog was given away while he served. Social media led to a reunion
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Brave military duo reunites for best reason
After being deployed in South Korea, retired military working dog Akim found his forever home in Kirtland AFB with handler Senior Airman Jenna Canada.
Militarykind, USA TODAY
When Paulo Silva returned home from Navy combat deployment in the Middle East, he discovered his beloved dog Archie was gone. What happened next shows how social media can be a positive, unifying force.
Archie, a 5-year-old golden retriever had been entrusted to a relative in New Jersey, while Silva was serving an eight-month stint aboard the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman.
'A family member that was well-trusted felt they had no choice but to give away my dog,' Silva, who lives in Virginia and enlisted in the Navy in 2014, told the Asbury Park Press, part of the USA TODAY Network.
'At no point was I told about it and I had asked time and time again about him. I was told he was having good days and bad days, but he was hanging in there."
The relative gave Archie away, Silva said, because "they said my dog wasn't settling in too well – that he was having problems staying at the house. But I've had numerous people look after my dog before, with no issue.'
Silva's dismay grew to heartbreak when he asked the relative for Archie's whereabouts.
'They refused to give me the contact information of the person who has my dog,' Silva said.
So he turned to Facebook, posting a plea for help.
'This dog isn't just a pet to me," Silva wrote. "He is my heart, my companion, and a piece of my soul that helped carry me through some of the hardest times in my life."
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Within a day, he said, crowdsourcing helped him find Archie. The sad story now has a happy ending.
'I'm very happy to share that Archie has safely returned to me,' Silva wrote. 'I want to sincerely thank the family who has been caring for him during this time. Your kindness, care, and love for Archie have not gone unnoticed, and I am deeply grateful for everything you've done. I appreciate the time and effort you've given to ensure his well-being.'
Silva said to show his appreciation, he connected the family to a golden retriever breeder, which has offered to donate a puppy to the family.
"I can't thank them enough for being so supportive in this situation," Silva said in a follow-up interview on June 5.
On Facebook, he implored the public to stop blaming the family who had cared for the dog after an initial misunderstanding about whether they would return Archie.
"The family is not at fault, and I believe we can all agree that it's time to put this chapter behind us for the sake of everyone involved, especially Archie," Silva said.
Silva said he's "speechless" by the "overwhelming" amount of support he's gotten throughout the ordeal.
'Thank you to everyone who has shown support throughout this situation,' he posted on Facebook. 'I am incredibly grateful for the love and care our community has shown, and I'm happy to bring Archie home where he belongs.'
Jerry Carino is community columnist for the Asbury Park Press, focusing on the Jersey Shore's interesting people, inspiring stories and pressing issues. Contact him at [e-mail].