Saving one shelter dog gives veteran a new best friend

When Marine veteran Brandon Quinnelly first saw a photo of Ares on the Best Friends website, he couldn't believe the resemblance to his beloved dog Achilles, who had been by his side for the past 14 years.

"The similarities between Ares and Achilles are uncanny," says Brandon.

Achilles had helped Brandon navigate life with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and losing him had been heartbreaking. "I was taking that really hard, and I knew I had to find another dog to help me cope," explains Brandon.

Quirky dog brings joy to adopter coping with PTSD

But before Ares could begin his new life with Brandon, a team of animal lovers had to come together to save him.

When Ares arrived at Shawnee Animal Services in Oklahoma, he was unresponsive and in serious condition. His temperature was dangerously high, his face had cuts and abrasions, and he was covered in fleas. One of his front legs was also badly swollen.

Shelter staff sprang into action, bathing Ares, giving him medication to get rid of the fleas, and doing everything they could to help him feel better. Within hours, his temperature returned to normal, the swelling began to go down, and he was eating.

But he wasn't out of the woods yet. He needed veterinary care beyond what the small shelter could provide on its own. In the past, a dog in Ares’ condition might not have made it out of the shelter alive. But no-kill is about doing what’s right for each individual animal and saving every healthy or treatable pet. And thanks to a new connection with Best Friends Animal Society, the Shawnee team had help.

A few months earlier, Sophia Proler, Best Friends south-central regional director, visited Shawnee Animal Services to get to know the staff and see whether there was anything they needed. When she learned the shelter’s AC was on the fritz, Best Friends helped purchase fans to keep the animals and staff comfortable.

Fast-forward to when Ares arrived in dire need of veterinary care. The shelter director reached out to Sophia in hopes that Best Friends could help him. The answer was yes. He could go to the Best Friends Pet Resource Center in Bentonville, Arkansas.

That's when Shawnee's lone animal services officer stepped up. He took a day off to make the seven-hour round-trip drive to Arkansas to get Ares the care he needed. The sweet pup went straight to the vet clinic at the pet resource center, where they treated his wounds and stabilized him.

With veterinary care and plenty of TLC, Ares made a full recovery. And as he started feeling better, his sweet, easygoing personality shone through. He quickly became known for his signature handshake, which he was happy to offer just about anytime.

Then serendipity stepped in. After Brandon saw Ares’ picture on the Best Friends website, he called the pet resource center and asked to meet him. The two hit it off right away, and Ares went home with Brandon that day.

Ares’ signature handshake is still going strong in his new home. "He just offers up his paw whenever he wants attention," Brandon says. He adds that Ares is also quite the chatterbox and has decided he's a 68-pound lap dog.

But Ares is preparing for a much bigger role. Brandon, a Marine combat veteran who served six deployments, plans to train him as his PTSD service dog, just as he did with Achilles.

From rescued dog to service dog

"I served in the Marines from 2001 until I was medically retired for chronic PTSD in 2010," says Brandon. "Achilles saved my life more times than I can count."

Ares began training the day after his adoption and is already making progress. For now, he's learning the skills he'll need to recognize when Brandon needs support.

"He's catching on pretty quick," says Brandon. "But it's going to take a little while; he has to learn my pheromones and learn when I'm feeling off."

And when Ares is off duty? He's busy soaking up all the love and attention he can get. "It's his house now," Brandon laughs. "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."

Today, Ares is exactly where he belongs, thanks to the efforts of many people who cared.

Sophia adds that Ares’ story is also an example of what can happen when shelter staff have someone (or several someones) in their corner, ready to lend a hand when pets need help.

“By showing shelter staff that we are there for them in whatever capacity, they feel less alone, and we save lives together," she says.

The dog who arrived at Shawnee Animal Services too sick to respond now greets each day by putting his paw in Brandon's hand. And soon, Ares will offer Brandon what Achilles gave him for 14 years: a steady companion who knows when he needs support before he has to say a word.

Our goal at Best Friends is to support all animal shelters in the U.S. in reaching no-kill. No-kill means saving every dog and cat in a shelter who can be saved, accounting for community safety and good quality of life for pets. 

Shelter staff can’t do it alone. Saving animals in shelters is everyone’s responsibility, and it takes support and participation from the community. No-kill is possible when we work together thoughtfully, honestly, and collaboratively.