A Texas mail carrier learned that a dog he had befriended on his old delivery route was waiting in an animal shelter after his owner died.
Before the shelter opened, he was already there to adopt him.
USPS letter carrier Ian Burke had first met Floyd while delivering mail to the home of Ken Meyer, a Vietnam veteran who used a wheelchair, in Denton, Texas.
Floyd was Ken’s service dog, and he made quite an impression on the mailman.
During their first encounter, he slipped out through the door and charged toward Ian like an excited puppy.
Over time, Ian got to know both Ken and Floyd. For about a year and a half, he enjoyed stopping by their home, delivering the mail and checking in on them.
Then his route changed.
Another carrier took over, and Ian’s regular visits came to an end.
In May 2025, Ken passed away.
Floyd was surrendered to the City of Denton Animal Shelter, leaving the dog who had been his companion in need of a new home.
Over Memorial Day weekend, Ian heard a coworker talking about a dog at the shelter.
The description sounded familiar.
He asked whether the dog was Floyd.
When the answer was yes, Ian knew he wanted to bring him home.
He arrived at approximately 9:50 a.m., ten minutes before the shelter opened, to make sure he was first in line.
Floyd wouldn’t have to start over with someone who knew nothing about him.
Waiting for him was the mailman who had known him since he was a puppy.
That day, Ian adopted Floyd.
He later explained that this was a dog his former customer had loved and cherished. Taking care of him meant something personal.
“I kind of felt responsible to take care of him,” Ian said.
He believed Ken would be pleased to know that his former mailman was giving Floyd a good home.
In a later photograph shared by USPS, Floyd sat on Ian’s lap, settled into the life they now shared.
Once, Ian had been someone who stopped by and left.
Now he was the person Floyd stayed with.
Ken’s love for his dog had been part of what Ian remembered about his old route.
And after Ken was gone, Ian made sure that dog still had someone to come home to ♥️🐾