Surfside hero Teddy needs YOUR help! 'Grief' strikes support dog who can no longer walk
A therapy dog named Teddy, a 6-year-old basset hound-labrador mix from Philadelphia who showed up for emotional support to the grieving families following the Surfside condo collapse in Miami is not doing well. Teddy came to Surfside following the devastation last month to show up as an emotional companion for those who came to look for and mourn their loved ones. Apparently, the 'grief' has taken a toll on the dog.
According to reports, after three weeks of providing emotional support, Teddy lost the ability to walk on July 14. Reportedly, he couldn't pick himself up. Teddy’s attending doctor in Florida, Dr Tonya Carswell spoke of his condition and said, "He’s just not able to walk." "Animals of the emergency crisis response, they’re having a lot of things that they’re having to deal with,” Dr Carswell added. Dr Beth Hirschfeld, a veterinary acupuncturist said, "It appears that he has a possible herniated disc, as well as a partial tear of his cranial crucial ligament in his knee."
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The dog is receiving laser therapy and acupuncture along with traditional physical therapy to relieve his symptoms. Teddy's owner Sophia Barrett spoke to CBS4 and said, "I’m scared of him not being able to walk again. He’s such an active dog … It would completely impact the quality of his life because that’s what he does." Teddy became a part of 'psychological first aid' response team, from the NPO 'Crisis Response Canines' right after search and rescue teams got to work after the collapse. "We go down and we make rounds to the advocacy center, the reunification center, down at ground zero where search and rescue and recovery is taking place, " Barrett said.
Teddy and his owner are eagerly looking forward to getting back to Philadelphia once he completely recuperates. Miami CBS reports that not one, but two, veterinarians are tending to Teddy, trying to help with the dog's recovery. Teddy is reportedly on a steady regimen of acupuncture, laser treatment and chiropractic treatments.
They are currently staying in Florida. Barrett, who set up a GoFundMe for Teddy hopes his kindness will be returned to him through the fundraiser with the help of which he could be safely flown home to his feline brother and sister. Barrett, who works at a suicide prevention organization said, "The one big thing is having a plane chartered to get him home because a commercial airline would not be safe for him as well as driving all the way to Philadelphia." So far, $39,895 raised of $5,300 goal of the fundraiser.