The dog came courtesy of the group Paws of War.
A Long Island, New York. family left devastated by the death of a military dad deployed to Iraq this year was recently surprised with a puppy.
Per CBS New York, Master Sgt. Christopher Raguso of Commack was killed in a helicopter crash one day after his 39th birthday, leaving behind two young daughters and his wife.
Raguso and his wife, Carmela Raguso, had planned to get a dog upon his return.
“My husband and I have always found an excuse to not get a dog. But it was time," Carmela said. "We talked about when Chris got home from his deployment, we would make it a big surprise."
Sadly, they never got the chance. However, a charity called Paws of War that trains shelter dogs to be given away to help comfort military families heard their story.
Over the weekend, 5-year-old Eva and 7-year-old Mila were introduced to Calvin and they couldn't have been happier.
“This pup Calvin will help the children sleep better," Robert Misseri with the Long Island-based charity told CBS New York.
The girls' mother said they've suffered from nightmares since losing their dad. "There’s no question that he will bring some calmness and serenity into their lives," Misseri said of Calvin, a black Lab who was slated to be put down in a crowded Louisiana shelter before rescuers drove him up to New York.
The group said they provided the Raguso family with toys, food and other dog necessities.
“We needed today," Carmela said. "This was a good thing for us. We needed happy, something genuinely happy, something to keep their minds off the everyday and something to take care of."
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