An Army veteran’s fight to get his dog back has hit a nerve on social media, where his story is going viral.
U.S. Army veteran Brendan Jones rescued his dog, Lucy, from ISIS territory in 2015. After undergoing leg surgery in 2025, Lucy nipped a passerby and was deemed “dangerous” by Virginia law, despite claims that Lucy was medicated at the time.
In 2026, Lucy temporarily slipped off her leash and was seized from her family farm by authorities.
Jones has been fighting to get Lucy back ever since, saying his family is heartbroken and his kids leave notes at the shelter begging for her return. A petition nearing 5,000 signatures and a fundraiser topping $15,000 have been launched ahead of a hearing on June 12.
“We’re hoping that her life is bookended by miracles. One to get her here, to save her from the Islamic State, and one to get her out of the hands of our own state,” the family said, according to Fox News.
Army veteran Brendan Jones rescued his dog from ISIS territory over a decade ago. Now, 11-year-old Lucy sits in an animal shelter after authorities removed her from the family’s farm over a neighbor dispute.
‘We’re hoping that her life is bookended by miracles. One to get her… pic.twitter.com/eDUvMKijIZ
— Fox News Flash (@FoxNews_Flash) May 21, 2026
Two days ago, Jones posted that he had joined Fox host Sean Hannity to share his plight, and that he had hopes of Lucy’s return after meeting the district attorney.
Today was a rollercoaster. @Herb_Minstrel and I went on air with #SeanHannity to talk about our fight to #SaveLucy. That was one of the highest honors of my lifetime. Thank you, Sean.
Then I spoke with the DA. That was also an honor, but the experience was more difficult. I can… pic.twitter.com/mTqX8R0uMa
— Brendan Jones 🇺🇸 (@jonesbrendanm) May 21, 2026
Two days before that, as Jones’ and Lucy’s story started really taking off, he shared a video that was taken of her in her cell, where, at least, it sounds like she’s being well cared for:
Took Lucy treats. Couldn’t see her. One of the ladies took a video of her. She sent it to me along with the following message:
“Praying for a positive outcome soon for Lucy! 🙏”
These people are heroes. God bless them. But I want my dog back.#SaveLucy@Herb_Minstrel pic.twitter.com/htCgWM3CEo
— Brendan Jones 🇺🇸 (@jonesbrendanm) May 18, 2026
How did Lucy end up in a shelter?
According to Jones’ petition letter, disgruntled neighbors had been upset about his family farm’s animals:
Two years ago, we began to face profound hostility in the neighborhood to which we had moved due to our farm animals,” He wrote. “It was hard being received in our new community with bullying, gossip, and harassment. It had already taken a deep psychological and emotional toll on us before culminating last week when our beloved dog Lucy was taken by Animal Control after repeated complaints by a handful of neighbors who simply resent our presence here. She did nothing wrong. She just slipped off her leash for a few seconds. A passerby, a local attorney’s wife, escalated it to the authorities. Now, at 11 years old, Lucy is unjustly confined in a shelter; confused, lonely, and awaiting death for doing nothing but barking – something all dogs do!
Jones’ fight to save his beloved dog, again, has gone viral on X under ‘SAVE LUCY.’ You can hear more of his agonizing story below:
@Herb_Minstrel and I were honored to appear on @seanhannity‘s radio show yesterday. Here is the segment where we discussed our efforts to #SaveLucy, the dog who survived war.
What a story. From a mudhole in the deserts of the Middle East to a national story in America. pic.twitter.com/NZfbJHku1F
— Brendan Jones 🇺🇸 (@jonesbrendanm) May 21, 2026
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