Marine combat veteran Jared Heine hadn't seen his bomb-sniffing dog, Spike, since they were in Afghanistan together - roughly three years. He was sent home to Illinois because of traumatic brain injuries and had to return to the U.S. without his constant companion, Spike. Heine suffers from PTSD and depression, and his mother began to wonder if there was anything that she could do to help him cope. She noticed that her son was always talking about Spike, and this gave her the idea to seek out the dog and try to get a reunion in place for her son.
When the Heines located Spike, he was working alongside Virginia Capitol Police officer Laura Taylor. Spike had been with Taylor for two years, and Taylor had fallen just as in love with him as Heine did. When she finally met Heine, she had a difficult decision to make about where Spike would spend his time: would she keep him in service at her side or send him home with Heine? Seeing how she reacted to the situation and how selflessly and graciously she responded to Heine's request is truly uplifting. Taylor is an officer with an exemplary heart, and in a time when police officers have been getting a lot of bad coverage, it's wonderful to be reminded of just how compassionate and kind our police officers can be.
What do you think of Heine and Taylor's unique situation? What would you have done if you were in Taylor's position? Let us know in the comments below!
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