Navy sailor returns home from deployment to find out family gave his dog away — before he tracks down pooch: ‘Isn't just a pet'
Paulo Silva's homecoming celebration was short-lived when he learned that his 5-year-old golden retriever, Archie, was gone.
'While I was away, something happened that I was completely unaware of and never would have agreed to—my dog was given away without my knowledge or consent,' Silva wrote in a now-revised Facebook post.
5 Navy sailor Paulo Silva says his dog Archie was given up by the family he tasked on watching him while he was deployed to the Middle East.
Paulo Silva Facebook
Silva, a Freehold, NJ native who lives in Virginia, described Archie as his companion. The two had experienced everything together until the dog was brought to Toms River, NJ, just before the sailor's deployment last October.
'This dog isn't just a pet to me. 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,' he said.
Silva described his bond with Archie as 'irreplaceable,' having been through everything together.
'I love this dog more than words can express—more than life itself.
Silva had been aboard the USS Harry S. Truman during the aircraft carrier's 251-day mission to the Middle East, where it was attacked by the Iranian-backed terror group Houthis and fired over 1.1. million pounds of ordnance, the Navy Times reported.
5 Archie a 5-year-old golden retriever was last known to be in Toms River, NJ.
Paulo Silva Facebook
5 Silva described his bond with Archie as 'irreplaceable,' having been through everything together.
Paulo Silva Facebook
Silva says he routinely checked in with family during his deployment, but was never told Archie was having trouble settling into the new environment.
'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 told the Asbury Park Press.
The relative allegedly told Silva they 'had no choice' but to give the dog away.
Silva, who returned home on June 1, set out to look for Achie and pleaded for social media to help locate the man who took in the dog.
'I'm reaching out publicly not out of anger, but out of heartbreak. I am respectfully asking you to please consider returning my dog to me,' he wrote. 'I am pleading with you, not just as a veteran, but as someone who lost something deeply precious to them without any choice or voice in the matter.'
5 Silva was deployed on the USS Harry S. Truman during the aircraft carrier's 251-day mission to the Middle East.
Paulo Silva Facebook
Silva – with the help of Toms River and Monmouth County police, a veterans group and Facebook –located his dog on Wednesday afternoon.
'I'm very happy to share that Archie has safely returned to me. I want to sincerely thank the family who has been caring for him during this time,' Silva wrote in an update.
The grateful sailor helped connect the family with a golden retriever breeder who offered to donate a puppy for helping Silva reunite with Archie.
5 Archie was reunited with Silva after the dog search campaign.
Paulo Silva Facebook
'I'm completely overwhelmed (in the best way) by the love and support you've all shown about my Archie Barchie being returned,' Silva wrote.
He shared a picture of a happy Archie with his tongue out at their reunification.
In an update Wednesday afternoon, Silva called for civility from his supporters who had allegedly targeted the family that gave Archie away.
'I want to respectfully ask that everyone stop any further harassment, threats, or negative actions directed at the family,' Silva wrote. 'This situation has been difficult for all involved, and it's important that we move forward with kindness, understanding, and respect.'
'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,' he concluded.
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