Project Active Duty Reunited Family and Their Beloved Dog After 15 Months Apart

It was a touching reunion when Project Active Duty reunited the Locke family and their 4-year-old Pit Bull Terrier mix, Layla, after 15 long months apart.

When Master Sergeant Doug Locke received news that he was being deployed overseas for more than a year’s time, he turned to AHS for help.

This past weekend, the Arizona Humane Society (AHS) along with, PetSmart Charities, reunited the Locke family with their 4-year-old Pit Bull Terrier mix, Layla, as part of AHS’ Project Active Duty program.

Launched in response to the September 11^th attacks, AHS started Project Active Duty as a way to give back to the brave men and woman serving our country. With the help of a $50,000 donation from PetSmart Charities to date, the program allows loving pet owners leaving for a tour of duty to entrust their pets with AHS, providing not only peace of mind during their deployment but comfort knowing that when they return, their pet will be waiting for them.

It was August of 2015 when Master Sergeant Doug Locke was deployed to South Korea. Without anyone available to help care for his dog, MSG Locke turned to AHS’ Project Active Duty program for help. The program, which is free of charge to members of the military, places pets into AHS foster hero homes for the length of the deployment, regardless of the duration. Foster hero parents, Larry and Janet LeBlanc, who are from Surprise, Arizona and have strong military ties, took Layla in and cared for her as if she was one of their own.

PetSmart Charities, the largest funder of animal welfare in North America, is a longstanding partner of AHS.  With its support, the Arizona Humane Society is able to secure the necessary resources needed to recruit foster families and increase the number of foster homes available for Project Active Duty pets. Foster hero homes are critical to AHS’ Alternative Placement programs as well as to the thousands of ill or injured pets who may need temporary shelter beyond what our campuses can provide.

To date, nearly 100 pets, including cats, dogs, and rabbits, have benefitted from the program.

View this incredible reunion:

You can help families just like the Locke family and Layla by joining our Project Active Duty foster team.
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Read more about this amazing reunion at People.com.