Vet's Service Dog Goes Missing After Car Crash. Strangers Band Together To Find Her
We’ve all heard the saying, “A dog is a man’s best friend.” This statement couldn’t be more true for one man from Collinsville, Illinois.
On March 17, veteran Andre Wild was injured in a car wreck that caused serious damage to his liver and ribs. Wild’s miniature Australian Shepherd, Summer, was with him during the crash.
Ejected from the vehicle at the time, Summer had last been seen fleeing into the woods nearby. First responders attempted to catch her, but they weren’t quite quick enough.
Wild suffers from PTSD. “That’s his service dog, she’s bonded to him… He really needs her,” Wild’s sister, Linda Chambers, said in an interview.
Thankfully, local good Samaritan Beth Owen decided to help Wild find his best friend. Stories and posts about the incident motivated Owen to action.
With the help of the “Finding Summer the Service Dog” Facebook group she created, Owen and others from the area began their search. “It was just this organic falling together of this great group of people,” Owen commented.
Soon, signs and banners were created. Updates were posted on Facebook informing group members of the latest regarding the search.
News stations even began to spread the word. It was clear many wouldn’t rest until Wild and Summer were together again.
Wild recovered in the hospital waiting for Summer to be found. It took a lot of effort and many long hours and weeks of searching, but on April 10, the dog and her owner were reunited.
“The timing of everything was miraculous. It was just a miracle,” Owen said.
“If this group hadn’t gotten together,” Chambers explained, “we wouldn’t have found her.”
The group members helped fund the costs of the search. I’m sure the reward they reaped feels well worth it.
The joy on Wild’s face is unmistakable. It’s clear he and Summer are two peas in a pod, and no doubt Wild is beyond grateful for the efforts of those in his community.
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