Hope was more than a service dog, she was family to 12-year-old Cerenity Higgins of Stuttgart.
Cerenity is diagnosed with Autism, Epilepsy, Non-Verbal, and ADHD and funds were raised two years ago to help purchase Hope to help Cerenity when she had her seizures.
Witnesses say a brown truck struck Hope Wednesday afternoon, a Pure-Doodle Great Pyrenees and Standard Poodle who weighs approximately 90 pounds, over by Baptist Hospital and kept going.
Maranda Amos, Cerenity’s mother said her daughter is lost without Hope.
“I feel horrible,” she said. “Cerenity doesn’t understand that Hope is gone and she keeps walking around the house moaning looking for Hope.”
According to Amos, Hope was rushed to Dr. Henkel for observation.
“We thought her legs were broke but Hope was bleeding out the mouth,” said Amos. “Comes to find out Hope had no broken bones but internal bleeding instead. She was hit in her chest.”
Amos, who had just returned home from surgery when she discovered Hope was missing, has started a GoFundMe account to fill the void her daughter needs.
“My daughter Cerenity is Autistic, Non Verbal, Epilepsy and ADHD,” said Amos. “Hope was family. Hope went to school a year to train to let me know ahead of time for seizures. Hope also helped my daughter and I with anxiety. My daughter does not have friends so Hope was her sister her friend her companion a comforter and now she is gone. No, we can not replace Hope but my daughter needs a friend and a protector.”
Authorities are asking you contact them if you have any information leading up to the arrest of the suspect.
To donate to the Go FundMe, click the link below.
Dog should not have been running loose. Isn’t there a leash law in Stuttgart ? I’ve hit dogs because they ran out in front of me. Never on purpose. Have is this a hit and run? Hate it for the little girl. I have also lost dogs in this manner. Very sad.