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Vet's Service Dog Goes Missing After Car Crash. Strangers Band Together To Find Her

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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.

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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.”

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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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Sarah Carri is an avid reader and social media guru with a passion for truth and life. Her writing has previously been published in print and online by Focus on the Family and other well known media outlets. Her experience in ministry and Disney entertainment gives her a unique perspective on such topics.
Sarah Carri is an avid reader and social media guru with a passion for truth and life. Her writing has previously been published in print and online by Focus on the Family and other well known media outlets. Her experience in ministry and Disney entertainment gives her a unique perspective on such topics.

Sarah's experience as a successful working stay-at-home mom and business owner has given her the chance to write and research often. She stays up to date on the latest in entertainment and offers her views on celebrity stories based on her wide knowledge of the industry. Her success as a former preschool teacher and licensed daycare provider lend to her know-how on topics relating to parenting and childhood education.

Her thoughts on faith and family issues stem from home life and ministry work. Sarah takes time to attend workshops and classes annually that help her to improve and hone her writing craft. She is a graduate of the Institute of Children's Literature program and her writing has been acclaimed by ACFW and ECPA.
Education
Institute of Children's Literature, Art Institute of Phoenix (Advertising), University of California Irvine (Theater), Snow College (Early Childhood Education)
Location
Arizona
Languages Spoken
English
Topics of Expertise
Entertainment, Faith




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