05/27/2026
These testimonies depict the true meaning to why we do what we do day in and day out...fly high baby boy... 💔
I still can’t believe I am writing this. On May 19th, 2026, Lucky from the Kabul Commandos took his final breath in the evening, surrounded by his family and his adopted golden retriever brother, Chase. Lucky was suffering from upper jaw and sinus cancer. I honestly don’t even know where to begin with this or really what to write.
Lucky and his family found me back in 2015 while I was in Kabul, Afghanistan. One day, while walking out of our compound, I had these puppies run up behind me and jump on my leg. Not knowing what it was, I turned around, and it was love at first sight. In that moment, our lives changed forever, and I knew what I had to do. I saw his little face and how unique he was compared to the other puppies, and I just fell in love with him.
I did some research on Google for all of about ten seconds and found Puppy Rescue Mission. I ended up contacting them asking for help on September 4th, 2015. Within a day, Anna got back to me saying they could help.
In the meantime, I sent my mom a picture of Lucky and the other puppies, asking if they would be interested in adopting a dog. We had put our other dog to sleep about two years earlier, so I wasn’t sure if they were ready for another dog or not. But there was just something about Lucky that I couldn’t explain. Leaving him or his family behind just wasn’t something I could do.
I enlisted the help of my mom to handle the communication back and forth because my internet could be iffy at times. We all worked together to make my wish of getting Lucky, his brothers Bear, Chase, and Copper, his sister Sophia, and his mom Scarlet a chance at the life every dog deserves — one filled with love, care, and Lucky’s personal favorite: endless treats. PRM did just that for all of them no questions asked.
Little did Lucky or I know that him jumping on my leg, and one email, would change both of our lives. Because of PRM, I got the best 10 years of my life with Lucky. I wouldn’t change those years for anything. It was an honor to call Lucky my best friend for all those years. I truly am going to miss him forever, but I know one day we will meet again. When my time comes, he will come running back to me, jumping on my leg one more time just like he did as a puppy.
I will never be able to put into words how grateful I am for everyone at PRM (Anna, Erin, Michelle, and the staff), everyone who donated, the Afghan veterinarian staff (whose names will remain anonymous for safety), Noah, who donated all his bar mitzvah money to fully fund Lucky, and anyone else who helped.
Today marks one full week without him here. Life just doesn't feel the same anymore. All of his stuff is still in the same spot as he left it. I don't know when the time will be right to clean it up. It just feels like a bad dream but knowing he isn't in pain anymore bring some relief. I know he is here with me in spirit. I love you Lucky until we meet again my friend. Remember it wasn't goodbye but I'll see you again.
Sincerely,
Spc Holden Schoenig
John McCray
