Ms. Pearl and Her Veteran: A Lesson in Love, Trust, and Purpose

Some stories find you when you’re not looking for them.

For Dr. Lisa Thompson, founder of The Pet Cross Inc, one of those stories began in 2020 — in the middle of Colorado Springs — when a man with a gentle southern drawl and a loyal gray Pitbull named Ms. Pearl wandered into her life.

Dr. Lisa Thompson and her assistant helping a dog who lives on the streets

Lisa had just started bringing her mobile veterinary clinic to the streets, offering free care to pets of people experiencing homelessness. She wasn’t sure who would show up, or whether anyone would trust her enough to let her help. But word spreads quietly in this community. Compassion leaves a trail.

One day, a man appeared beside her truck. He carried few possessions, but his presence filled the air — proud, soft-spoken, kind. He asked to see her clinic, wanting a tour. Before Lisa could even ask his name, he carefully unfolded a letter from his pocket — his honorable discharge papers.

“He wanted me to know who he was,” Lisa recalls. “That he had served. And that he loved his dog.”

Those were his two greatest points of pride — his service, and Ms. Pearl.

Over time, Lisa saw them often — walking everywhere, always side by side. Ms. Pearl became a familiar figure in the city, her gray coat and steady gait symbolic of the quiet loyalty that carries both of them through each day. She wasn’t just his companion. She was his compass. She kept him going — and he cared for her with a devotion that felt almost sacred.

When Ms. Pearl developed painful skin infections, Lisa treated her with anti-inflammatories and antibiotics. The veteran had no phone, no address. There was no way to reach him. He simply appeared when Ms. Pearl needed help, as if guided by an invisible thread of trust between them — a trust built on love and constancy.

Then one day, Lisa received a call while she was at the airport. It was animal control.

They had found the man and Ms. Pearl. She was dangerously ill — suffering from pyometra, a uterine infection that can kill quickly if untreated. The man refused to let anyone else near her. He didn’t trust systems or strangers. But he trusted Lisa.

“I talked to him right there in the airport,” she says. “He was afraid, but he listened.”

She explained what was happening, told him that Ms. Pearl could be saved if he let her get emergency surgery with another veterinarian. And he did. Because he trusted Lisa almost as much as he trusted Ms. Pearl.

The surgery saved Ms. Pearl’s life. When Lisa saw them again, the relief on his face said everything. “He showed up for her,” Lisa says softly. “He always does.”

Now, Ms. Pearl is thirteen. Her person — the veteran — is in his seventies. His health is failing, but his purpose is not.

“He once told me that if something happened to him, he’d want to put down Ms. Pearl,” Lisa says. “He said she couldn’t live without him. But what he was really saying… is that he can’t live without her.”

Through Pet Cross, Lisa connected him with Harley’s Hope, a nonprofit that helps seniors care for their pets. Together, they’ve made sure Ms. Pearl has what she needs — food, medicine, and the gentle care that keeps her going while he receives medical care. But truly, it’s love that keeps them both alive.

The veteran has since found a home for himself and Ms. Pearl — a quiet space where their walks begin and end each day.

Their story is more than one of survival — it’s a lesson in what it means to belong. Ms. Pearl teaches us that loyalty doesn’t waver, even when life is uncertain. She gives her person a reason to wake up each day, to walk a little farther, to stay tethered to this world.

And he shows us what love looks like when it’s stripped of everything except what matters: companionship, trust, and devotion.

Out of respect for their privacy, we’ve changed the dog’s name and kept the man’s name private. But if you’ve ever seen a man and his devoted dog walking the streets of Colorado Springs, you already know who they are. You’ve seen love in motion.

At Lew Dog Gives, we believe these stories are more than chance encounters. They are reminders that compassion bridges differences, animals remind us who we are, and purpose keeps love alive. Because when we care for one another — human and animal alike — we heal a little piece of the world.

Thanks to your generosity, Lew Dog Gives helped fund the lifesaving work of this devoted organization, where every animal—and every human–animal bond—truly matters.

Learn more about The Pet Cross, a 501(c)(3) Colorado nonprofit founded by Dr. Lisa Thompson. Their mission is to keep pets healthy so families working to stay in housing—or find housing—have one less worry. They honor the profound connection between people and their animals, knowing the value a pet’s life holds when you have very little.

Your donations to Lew Dog Gives make stories like this possible. When you give, you help fund compassionate organizations like The Pet Cross and bring hope, healing, and love to animals and people who need it most. Donate today.