First Lieutenant Brandon Harker, stationed at Fort Lewis, came back from an eight-month deployment to Afghanistan expecting to be reunited with his yellow lab, Oakley. Instead, he got a rude surprise--the guy who was supposed to be taking care of him gave him away.
"It's been rough and not getting any easier," Harker told ABCNews.com. "I've owned him for over two years and we used to spend every day together. All my family lives on the East Coast."
Harker has only been back for two weeks and is now on a different mission, doing everything he can to track down his yellow lab. The Pennsylvania native says he's already called every veterinarian clinic and shelter in and around Tacoma, Wash. where he's stationed on Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
But, no luck.
So Harker has taken his search online, posting on craigslist and setting up a Facebook page, even gaining support from strangers touched by his story.
Harker first got Oakley in 2011, when he was stationed at Fort Benning. Oakley has followed Harker all over the United States, and has been left with trusted friends whenever Harker has deployed outside this country.
It went without a hitch until his latest deployment to Afghanistan. He told CNN that he first got suspicious when his friend in Washington never sent pictures despite numerous requests. Then, while laying over in Alaska on his way back to the States, he learned via a text message that the now-former friend had given Oakley away. Harker thinks this could have happened as early as February, which was the last time he saw a picture.
Oakley has spots of darker yellow on his sides and legs, and also has an identifying microchip. If you have any knowledge of his whereabouts, buzz Harker either on his Facebook page, on Craiglist or on Twitter. Additionally, a woman has started a campaign on YouCaring.com to raise $1,500 to help get Oakley returned.