Mail carrier who delivered for late Vietnam War vet adopts his dog

DENTON, Texas (WFAA) – Every single day, there are dogs inside the City of Denton Animal Shelter in Texas waiting for a human to take them home.

On Tuesday, a 70-pound pup named Floyd finally got his forever home.

Mail carrier Ian Burke said knew he was meant to be Floyd’s family.

“I’m taking this guy home with me,” Burke said.

It was not the first time the two met at the shelter.

“I don’t take it lightly, you know. Like this is just some random dog that I’m adopting,” he said. “This is a dog that was loved and cherished by a former customer of mine.”

Burke met Floyd three years ago while delivering mail to Floyd’s then owner, a wheelchair-bound Vietnam vet on his daily route.

“He got out the door and charged at me, a little puppy,” Burke said.

Burke said he looked forward to seeing Floyd and his owner each week.

“I checked his mail, which I liked,” he said.

A year and a half ago, Burke’s route changed. Saturday, the mailman who took over let Burke know Floyd’s owner had died, and the dog was in the shelter.

“I went down to the shelter at about 10 a.m., that’s when they open, I got there at about 9:50 to make sure I was first in line,” Burke said.

Burke was the first and he quickly adopted the dog.

“I kinda felt responsible to take care of him,” he said. “I think he’d be pleased to know his former mailman is taking good care of his dog.”

Burke said he hopes sharing Floyd’s story might encourage others to head to the shelter and give a dog a second chance.

It’s only been two days since the adoption and already Floyd is Burke’s best friend.

“Probably one of the best things that the postal service inadvertently issued me,” Burke said.

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