This is the story of how one lucky shelter dog won his freedom—riding shotgun alongside a Navy veteran in his monster trucks.

What follows is an unlikely love story. It is told from the perspective of a former shelter dog who has become a local celebrity in his community. But first, a little bit about the Navy veteran and fellow traveler who saved him.

“…always do better”

Tim enlisted in the Navy and served for more than a decade. He joined the military to invest his life with more structure and self-discipline following a tragic loss.

“In truth to the real reason I enlisted was I had lost my mom,” he shares, “and was mad at the world for anything and everything.”

Tim trained as a Seabee, the Navy’s construction corps, and traveled the world. In 2008 he deployed to the Middle East for a year as part of the Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 24.

It was a dangerous part of the world. Tim was stationed out of Joint Base Balad in Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom/New Dawn.

But in time the young Seabee got what he sought by enlisting: a greater sense of self and purpose.

The Navy veteran credits his chief petty officer during deployment for helping him become a more resilient man.

“He pushed me to always do better and never quit, get knocked down, get back up, learn, listen, study, execute,” he says.

“Super amazing role model for me at that time in my life.”

Good things, small packages

Tim separated from service to start life anew in Blount County, Tennessee with his young family.

Owning a few semis and a dump truck—and applying skills learned as a Seabee—Tim went to work delivering construction materials.

Returning to family life full time brought back fond memories of volunteering with his three children at a local animal shelter.

One day in June 2024 Tim visited Eastbourne Animal Shelter—known previously as Monroe County Animal Shelter—to ask if he could help by fostering one of their dogs.

The former Seabee had not planned to adopt a pet, much less a shotgun riding sidekick.

But as they say, the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry.

Tim became a foster failure: a person who intends to provide temporary care for a pet and ends up adopting instead.

The little dog who won Tim’s heart was named Dos Equis in the shelter. He is a tiny Chihuahua/mini-Pinscher mix with oversized years and an even bigger personality.

As soon as Tim discovered the petite pup loved to ride in the big trucks, “it was a done deal.”

Dos Equis was aptly renamed Diesel Dog, owing to his new life spending days riding shotgun with Tim.

“All the scale houses absolutely love him and look forward to seeing him,” he says.

“They even bought treats to give him when we pull up to the window as they don’t usually see dogs in dump trucks.”

And now, a few words from Diesel Dog.

A hard knock life

They used to call me Dos Equis back at the Eastbourne Animal Shelter. I never really liked that name, just didn’t feel like me.

Life before that was a little rough. Some streets, some cages, lots of noise, and not much love. I was still pretty shy.

Then one day I was out at this adoption event, just hoping somebody might stop and see past my small size and quiet eyes.

That’s when he showed up.

Just walked up to grab a drink, but something stopped him. He looked over at all of us—then locked eyes with me.

He talked to the shelter staff and pointed at me. I froze, then he knelt down and reached in.

I couldn’t help myself, I snuggled right into his hand. I knew it. He was my human.

Ride baby, ride

Now I’m no ordinary Chihuahua/Min Pin mix.

Sure, I’m little, but I’ve got a big heart and an even bigger love for adventure and exploring.

But my all-time favorite? Riding.

When the staff told him I loved to ride and even had my own car seat, he laughed like he couldn’t believe it.

Guess I didn’t look like your typical ‘truck dog.’ But that sealed the deal. He agreed to foster me and help the shelter.

He went in, got his drinks, came back out, signed the papers—and just like that, I was leashed up and walking toward freedom.

Four wheels and free

And then I saw it !!!! A big. Ol’. Dump. Truck.

I’d never seen anything like it. And I got to ride in it! Windows down, ears flappin’, snacks in the console, and deliveries to make.

Turns out, I’m not just riding—I’m working, too! Co-pilot life suits me just fine. And his wife? She packs me the best snacks ever.

Oh yeah—they started calling me Diesel Dog. And I like it. It fits me.

So after my human seen how much I enjoyed going to work with him and riding around, he adopted me!!!

Now I ride shotgun almost every day, exploring the world, tail waggin’ with joy. No more shelter. No more cages.

I’ve got love. I’ve got snacks. I’ve got a truck.

I’ve got my forever home.

Epilogue

Hope you enjoy some of his short story right now, but it’s only beginning for him. We have many many more miles of traveling to do together.