Veteran Heartbroken Over Death of Service Dog of 14 Years Until He Meets a Shelter Pup Who Looks Remarkably Familiar
AresCredit: Best Friends Animal Society
Marine veteran Brandon Quinnelly was devastated after losing Achilles, his service dog of 14 years, who helped him manage PTSD
While looking for another companion, Quinnelly spotted a shelter dog named Ares who bore an uncanny resemblance to Achilles
Ares had survived a serious medical emergency before being adopted and is now training to become Quinnelly’s new service dog
After losing the service dog who had been by his side for 14 years, Marine veteran Brandon Quinnelly wasn’t sure how he would move forward without him. Then he came across a photo of a shelter dog who looked remarkably familiar.
Quinnelly, who served six deployments in the Marines, had relied on his beloved dog Achilles to help him manage his post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). When Achilles died, the loss was devastating, but a chance encounter with a photo of a dog named Ares on the Best Friends Animal Society website offered him an unexpected new beginning.
“The similarities between Ares and Achilles are uncanny,” Quinnelly told Best Friends Animal Society of the two pups.
Achilles had been more than a companion to Quinnelly, who served in the Marines from 2001 until he was medically retired in 2010 because of chronic PTSD.
Ares giving pawCredit: Best Friends Animal Society
“Achilles saved my life more times than I can count,” he said.
Losing the dog who had supported him through so much was incredibly difficult. “I was taking that really hard, and I knew I had to find another dog to help me cope,” Quinnelly explained.
But before Ares could become part of his life, the dog had his own difficult journey to overcome. Ares arrived at Shawnee Animal Services in Oklahoma in serious condition. He was unresponsive, had a dangerously high temperature, and was covered in fleas, with cuts and abrasions on his face and severe swelling in one of his front legs.
Shelter workers immediately began treating him, giving him a bath, flea medication and other care. Within hours, his temperature had returned to normal, the swelling had begun to subside and he was eating again.
Still, Ares needed more medical attention than the small shelter could provide. Staff reached out to Best Friends Animal Society, which arranged for him to receive treatment at its Pet Resource Center in Bentonville, Ark. Shawnee’s only animal services officer even took a day off to make the seven-hour round-trip drive to get Ares the help he needed.
After receiving veterinary treatment and time to recover, Ares managed to bounce back, revealing a sweet personality and a habit of offering his paw to anyone willing to give him attention.
Ares with staff from the Best Friends Animal SocietyCredit: Best Friends Animal Society
Then Quinnelly spotted his photo online. Struck by how much Ares resembled Achilles, he contacted the rescue center and arranged to meet him. The two connected immediately, and Quinnelly adopted Ares that same day.
Now settling into his new home, the 68-pound dog has already made himself comfortable, whether he’s offering his signature handshake, chatting with his new owner or climbing into bed for a cuddle.
“He just offers up his paw whenever he wants attention,” Quinnelly said.
But Ares is also preparing to take on an important role in his new owner’s life. Quinnelly began training him the day after the adoption, with the goal of helping Ares become his new PTSD service dog. Although the training will take time, the veteran said his new companion is already making progress.
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“He’s catching on pretty quick,” Quinnelly said. “But it’s going to take a little while; he has to learn my pheromones and learn when I’m feeling off.”
For now, Ares is enjoying life with his new owner, who says the affectionate dog has wasted no time claiming his favorite spots around the house.
“It’s his house now,” Quinnelly joked. “He’s also decided that my bed is his bed now, and if I’m sitting in bed, he’s got to be there sitting right on my feet or my legs.”
Source: Nature
