Soldier Leaves Behind Best Friend And Companion
Maxwell (Max for short) a 3-year-old collie-husky mix is staying with Tunnell’s parents, Joe and Tina Tunnell, who seem as proud of the dog as they are of their son.
BY BRYNN ROBERTSON
SPECIAL TO THE HERALD COURIER
Dustin Tunnell prepared: He ran every day, got his personal affairs in order, had conversations with Mom, Dad and friends.
But when he left for Parris Island, South Carolina, home of the U.S. Marines boot camp, about 10 weeks ago there was one detail still undone, one that might be the hardest yet.
Tunnell’s best friend and companion, Maxwell (Max for short) still needs a home.
For now, the 3-year-old collie-husky mix is staying with Tunnell’s parents, Joe and Tina Tunnell, who seem as proud of the dog as they are of their son. Dustin, who made the decision to become a Marine just a few months ago, adopted Max three years ago when he was just a pup.
“Max is the best dog. He gets along great with kids and other animals. I just wish our cats could tolerate him so we could keep him,” Tina Tunnell said. “It has stressed Dustin about getting Max a good home. That is one of his biggest concerns. Not going overseas to fight, but to find someone who will love Max like he does.”
Dustin Tunnell, a Sullivan Central graduate, just celebrated his 23rd birthday while at boot camp. When he left for training, his mother said, “leaving Max was one of the hardest things he had to do. They were always together.”
The family had hoped to keep Max close, maybe a friend or family member could give him a home. But, Joe Tunnell said, it’s been a difficult mix with three family cats. So recently, they posted signs and flyers around town – seeking a new home for the former pet of a new Marine.
Max is making the best if it: Visitors no sooner get through the front gate before the dog offers a wag and a smile. Max then presents a stuffed zebra toy with a look that says he’ll be your friend forever if you’d just give it a toss across the yard.
Joe Tunnell said that as his son prepared for boot camp, Max would train right along with him.
“Dustin would get up early in the morning to run and Max would be right there beside him,” Joe Tunnell said. “He never barks unless something is wrong, so even bright and early he would just wait for Dustin to get ready and then they’d be out the door for their training runs. Max ran along Dustin’s side for a lot of miles!”
Tina Tunnell laughs as she explains that she grew up as an, “Air Force Brat,” spending much of her own childhood on military bases as both her father and grandfather served their countries.
“Dustin always talked about how proud he was of his two grandfathers who fought in wars before him,” Tina Tunnell said. “He always figured it would one day be his turn to do his part and serve his country and that is what he is doing. We are really proud of him.”
Dustin Tunnell will graduate July 24 as a U.S. Marine, private first class, and will immediately be sent for additional training, his parents said. While his exact locations have yet to be announced, he knows he is headed for assignments that are months long even before he is sent overseas.
So the Tunnell family is searching for a new home for Max, and they ask those interested to call (423) 534-8220.
“If you’re looking for companionship, he’s great! If you’ve got kids, he’s perfect! He just loves company,” Joe Tunnell said. “He once stayed by Dustin’s bed-side for a whole week when he was sick. He’s been a great companion and will make some family very happy.”
Advertisement
Reader Reactions
excuse me….I meant to post the Tunnell family. Thought I would correct myself before someone else does.
To the Tunnell,
I wish you the best in finding a home for Max. He’s a beautiful dog and I’m sure someone would love to have him. I would take him myself if I could afford another dog.
I had 2 cats when I got my first puppy and he got his little head bounced around by the cats several times before they decided to live and let live. It takes time, but eventually the cats will get used to Max. As long as Max isn’t trying to hurt the cats, I think you should give them a little more time to get used to each other.
I am a pet owner of cats and dogs as well. I have 3 chihuahuas in the house along with my cats. There are times that they have little spats even now. My Rotweiler(which is outside now), helped me raise one of my cats, Precious. She is a solid white cat that was brought to my porch by her mother which is also a solid white ferral cat outside. Rocky helped me raise Precious from 1 day old. Of course, at the time, Rocky was inside and I didn’t have the Chi’s at the time (this was 6 years ago). Rocky prefers to be outside due to his skin allergies of carpet, and raising Precious has brought a whole new meaning to cat and dog relationships. However, if Rocky come to the front porch and precious sees him, she will hiss and every hair on her back raises up. I have had to bring Rock in the house at times, and even though Precious hisses, after a while, they get along like they did when she was a kitten.
What I’m trying to say, is it take TIME to get animals to trust each other, and time to allow them to get used to each other. Sometimes it works and sometimes it don’t, but that don’t mean getting rid of one will help the situation.
I agree with the others on here, PLEASE keep Max. He is your sons best friend and companian. I realize that the first thing your son will see when he comes home will be mom and dad. BUT don’t it make since to keep his best friend so he will know that the “other part of him” is there waiting for him to come home?
What if this was a cat, sometimes cats dont get along very well with each other too, but they learn to adapt and stay clear of each other. TRUST ME, I KNOW.
Please keep Max, he IS a part of your son, he is your sons best friend and that alone, will make all the difference in the world when he comes home to find that mom and dad have open arms, but a wagging tail with excitement, YOU CAN’T REPLACE THAT HAPPINESS BETWEEN A PET AND THEIR “OTHER HALF”.
No, if you really read the article you’d realize that maybe Dustin had decided to give Max away prior to his leaving but ran out of time before he could find a good family? And, that maybe he had to leave it up to his parents to take care of this for him? He adopted Max, his mom and dad did not. As a pet mom (dog and cats), I’m just happy they’re going to such great lengths to find Max a good family and didn’t just dump him by the side of the road - or worse. Stop judging this family, go light a sparkler, and appreciate Dustin’s sacrifice of giving up his beloved Max so that he can defend YOUR right to choose whether or not you have a pet much less how many or what species!!
If you read the article close enough, its quite easy to figure out that the mom is making the decision that the cats stay and the dog goes. Someone needs to tell dad to go reclaim “the pants” (he’ll find them in the wifes closet.)
I agree with baby boomer. I have cats and dogs and eventually they work it out.
Please be patient and keep them all. It just takes a little time and effort.
I’m with everyone else. Keep the dog. If need be get rid of the cats.
I could never give away anything that meant that much to one of my kids,but if you have too why not have someone adopt the dog and make conditions up front that when your son come in for leave he has the right to come and visit and when your son is out of the marines for good then he get the dog back!! I’m sure anyone with a heart if they truly wanted to take the dog would agree to that knowing that he is going overseas to fight for our freedom.May god bless your family and tell him we are very proud of him that he chose to fight for our freedom!
please keep Max out of respect for your son!
I think the parents should keep their son’s dog, a dog is Man’s Best Friend, it will be hard enough for him fighting for his country, and thinking of his best friend he had to give away. I had three brothers in the Army, two of them sacrificed 20 years for their country, and to this day are still suffering the wounds war. I or my parents would never have even thought to giving up anything that they wanted us to take care, it is not right. Keep your son’s dog, you will not regret it.
Advertisement