Comfort dog who helped grieving families at collapsed Florida condo now unable to walk

The New York Daily News - 7/20/2021

A Philadelphia dog who provided comfort to families and first responders at the collapsed South Florida condo was set to fly back home in a private jet Tuesday after suddenly losing his ability to walk.

The 6-year-old basset hound-lab mix, Teddy, was one of several comfort dogs brought to Surfside to console those grieving the death of their loved ones and those searching for human remains in the massive pile of rubble. They spent several hours a day on the site for about three weeks following the deadly June 24 disaster.

Teddy appears to have sustained minor injuries at some point before or during the trip and was unable to walk when he woke up last Wednesday morning, said his handler, Sophia Barrett. X-rays later revealed a possible herniated disk in his spine and potential torn ligaments in his knees, she said in a statement posted on the GoFundMe website.

Barrett believes her dog may have sustained a hip injury before going to Surfside that became worse amid the constant activity with the families and search crews.

“He was so active for so many weeks,” she told the South Florida Sun Sentinel. “It was just more than his body could handle.”

After sharing the heartbreaking story on local media and launching an online campaign to fund Teddy’s treatment, Barrett quickly raised more than $20,000 in donations and even got someone to fly the four-legged first responder back to Philadelphia.

Dirk Vander Sterre, CEO of the New Jersey-based Titan Aviation Group, contacted Barrett and arranged for her and Teddy to fly out of Fort Lauderdale on a private jet Tuesday afternoon, according to the Sentinel.

“The outpouring of support has been unbelievable,” she told the paper. “I’ve gotten calls since arranging that, asking if we still need a flight. I don’t even know how many different agencies got in touch with me.”

It’s still unclear if and when Teddy will regain his ability to walk, but he’s expected to continue a rigorous treatment in Philadelphia that includes acupuncture, physical therapy and cold laser therapy.

Barrett said she would donate any excess funds to the New Jersey nonprofit Crisis Response Canines.