When Knicks fan and veteran Luciano Yulfo was invited to a game, he was under the impression that he’d be presented with some kind of an award.
As an injured veteran, life hadn’t always been easy for him—and he was aware that many people wanted to help. However, he had no idea that a sensational surprise would be awaiting him when he took to the basketball court to claim it.
The team did not disappoint, first presenting him with his very own personalized Knicks jersey. Then the real magic took place, when a handler walked out onto the basketball court with a gorgeous golden retriever wearing a patriotic bandana.
It was then that the announcer began to explain what was happening; it turns out that Yulfo had been waiting over a year and a half for a service canine.
And this dog, named Murphy, was going to be going home with Yulfo. Because service dogs are in such high demand—and it takes a lot of resources to train them—veterans are often left waiting a long time for man’s best friend to make an appearance at their homes.
Judging from Murphy’s the dog’s playful reaction to his new dad, it seems as if he’s going to become an integral part of the family.
With so many crazy news stories circulating these days, it’s nice to see that the American people still care about helping out our veterans—and that these brilliant, lovable dogs are making such a difference.
