After months in foster care, Miracle has survived a horrific fall from a second-floor balcony and is about to start a new path as a veteran’s service dog.
Last December, a video of a young German shepherd being thrown from a Daytona Beach balcony went viral, and she came back with good news: She had been adopted and would soon begin her new life as a service dog for a veteran. After the incident, a judge decided that the dog’s previous owner, Allison Murphy, was unable to care for her and granted her petition to be rehomed. Murphy has been charged with a felony and will be banned from owning animals for the next five years.
In December 2020, Volusia County police were called to a Daytona Beach hotel after reports of a woman standing on a second-floor balcony threatening to jump. Before the sheriff arrived, Murphy grabbed the dog and threw him over the balcony. The dog miraculously regained its balance and retreated. Onlookers were able to catch her and take her to a local veterinary hospital for treatment. She survived with minimal injuries, earning her the nickname “Miracle.”
Since December, Miracle has been in the care of a foster family. She still has a lot of love and support to offer as a young registered service dog, and Animal Services has found her a new home with a veteran in need of an assistance animal. Service dogs can assist veterans with disabilities and physical limitations by opening doors, turning keys, fetching objects, and barking for help. They also provide emotional support and solace to veterans who suffer from PTSD or other mental health issues as a result of their service.
Animal Services Director Adam Leith praised everyone who contributed to Miracle’s happy ending in a statement released by Volusia County, saying, “We are pleased that working with our law enforcement partners, we were able to intervene and protect Miracle from further harm.” Animal Services and law enforcement agencies across the county continue to collaborate to provide assistance and services to both our four-legged and two-legged pets.”
