US Sailor was left heartbroken after family gave away his dog. He made it his mission to find 'Archie'

'I’m reaching out publicly not out of anger, but out of heartbreak,' he wrote.

PUBLISHED 16 HOURS AGO

(L) Stressed sad crying man sitting outside; (R) Smiling man embracing dog while kneeling on dirt road - Representative Cover Image Source: Getty Images | Photos by (L) SIphotography; (R) Westend61

A US Navy sailor returned home after eight months overseas to a discovery he never expected — his dog had been given away without his knowledge. Paulo Silva, who posted about the ordeal in a now-updated Facebook post, had left his golden retriever Archie in the care of a relative before his deployment last October. The dog was later rehomed, leaving Silva to piece together what happened. Silva, based in Virginia and originally from Freehold, New Jersey, had asked his family to care for Archie while he served aboard the USS Harry S. Truman. The deployment lasted over 250 days and included operations in the Middle East, and when he arrived home on June 1, he found Archie missing.

Hispanic man sitting with dog in living room - Representative Image Source: Getty Images | Photo by Hill Street Studios

According to the New York Post, Silva wrote in his post, "While I was away, something happened that I was completely unaware of and never would have agreed to. My dog was given away without my knowledge or consent." The 5-year-old retriever had been moved to Toms River, New Jersey, shortly before Silva deployed. Silva explained that he had regularly checked in with relatives while overseas but had never been told of any serious problems. "They said my dog wasn’t settling in too well — that he was having problems staying at the house. But I’ve had numerous people look after my dog before, with no issue," he said. According to Silva, the relative later said they "had no choice" but to rehome Archie. The sailor posted a public appeal asking for help.

Man reunites with his Golden Retriever dog - Representative Image Source: Getty Images | Photo by adamkaz

"This dog isn't just a pet to me. He is my heart, my companion, and a piece of my soul that helped carry me through some of the hardest times in my life," he wrote, adding, "I am reaching out publicly not out of anger, but out of heartbreak." His message spread quickly, and within days, support poured in. Silva received help from the Toms River Police Department, Monmouth County authorities, a veterans group, and a rescue organization called PINTS 4 PETS. By Wednesday afternoon, he shared an update. "I'm very happy to share that Archie has safely returned to me," Silva wrote. "I want to sincerely thank the family who has been caring for him during this time." In the same post, Silva explained that he had connected the family with a golden retriever breeder who trains dogs for families with special needs.

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The breeder, he said, had offered to donate one of their puppies as a thank-you for helping care for Archie. As word of the reunion spread, Silva also addressed online reactions directed at the family involved. He said, "I want to respectfully ask that everyone stop any further harassment, threats, or negative actions directed at the family. This situation has been difficult for all involved, and it's important that we move forward with kindness, understanding, and respect." He added, "The family is not at fault, and I believe we can all agree that it's time to put this chapter behind us for the sake of everyone involved, especially Archie." In a closing note to friends and supporters, Silva shared his gratitude: "I'm completely overwhelmed (in the best way) by the love and support you've all shown about my Archie Barchie being returned."