After spending months in foster care, Miracle has recovered from a frightening fall from a second-floor balcony and is ready to start a new life as a service dog for veterans.
A young German Shepherd who was featured in a viral video last December being thrown from a Daytona Beach balcony has returned with happy news: she has been adopted and will shortly start a new life as a service dog for a veteran of war. After the incident, a judge granted a rehoming petition after concluding that the dog’s previous owner, Allison Murphy, was unable to care for her. Murphy faces felony charges and will not be allowed to own animals for the next five years.
In December 2020, Volusia County police were notified of a woman threatening to jump from a second-floor balcony of a motel in Daytona Beach. Murphy took the dog and threw her over the balcony before the sheriffs arrived. In a miracle, the dog could stand again and ran away. She was seized by onlookers and brought to a nearby veterinary hospital where she received care. Her escape with only minor injuries earned her the moniker “Miracle.”
Since December, Miracle has been under the care of a foster family. She still has a lot of love and support to provide as a young registered service dog, and Animal Services has placed her in a new home with a war veteran who needs an assistance dog. Veterans with physical impairments and injuries may benefit from service dogs’ assistance, including opening doors, using switches, retrieving objects, and barking for help. They also offer emotional support and solace to veterans who, as a result of their service, suffer from PTSD or other mental health issues.
Animal Services Director Adam Leath, who expressed gratitude to everyone involved in Miracle’s happy ending in a Volusia County statement, said, “We’re delighted that working with our law enforcement partners, we were able to intervene and protect Miracle from any more damage.” We still collaborate with local law enforcement agencies and Animal Services to offer services and assistance to our dogs, both two- and four-legged.
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