A freak incident involving the service dog of a visiting disabled Army veteran has resulted in the German Shepherd “TT” losing her tail, a Facebook post going viral, and possible pending action by law enforcement.
Dog owners Rick and Victoria McGuire are camping with 7-year-old TT in their RV in the Patrick Air Force Base campground, on their first-ever winter trip from their home in the Northeast to the Space Coast. Rick has had TT for less than two years to help calm his PTSD resulting from his military service.
On Feb. 6, they looked for a local dog groomer on Google and eventually took TT to Groomingdales Pet Spa, 595 Jackson Ave., Satellite Beach, for her bath.
When the couple picked her up, TT was suffering from an apparent internal break of her tail from her spine that was blocking her bowel movements. She had to have the tail amputated.
Subsequent photos of the X-rays and recovery posted on Facebook have gone viral and helped prompt official investigations by Satellite Beach police and Brevard County Animal Control, backed by the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office. Those investigations are expected to conclude next week, officials said.
While the McGuires have been told not to discuss the details of the case, they are pleased with TT’s healing process so far and hopeful she can maintain her role as a service dog. They explained that TT’s tail previous to the incident was fused to her spine due to arthritis.
Melbourne Beachsider requested reports of the incident from the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office and Satellite Beach police, but both agencies declined, saying it was an active investigation. Groomingdales was contacted via voicemail but did not return the call.
TT was given to the McGuires by a friend and put through the Train a Dog Save a Warrior (TADSAW) program. The program serves the veteran, the family and the community by providing the warrior with a K-9 rescue ‘Battle Buddy,’ and the training and tools needed to become an accredited TADSAW Warrior/Service Dog.
“When we picked her up she was running around anxious and she had a hump on the tail itself it didn’t have before. They thought it (the surgery) would be OK, they thought it would go well, but I think now they are waiting to see if there’s any nerve damage,’’ Rick McGuire said.
As for the use of social media in this case, the McGuires were surprised how they were inundated with interest and well wishes — as well as disturbed by several negative posts.
“It can be your friend or your foe,’’ Victoria McGuire said.
However, the couple said if they had a chance to do it over they would use Facebook again, because it ultimately prompted action.
“We have friends all over the country and the world now. We got a message from Australia today. It did work for us. We wouldn’t be where we are today without it,” Rick McGuire said.
The best outcome, he says, would be to have the mystery solved and TT back on the job. “We just want to know what happened. She’s very resilient.’’
