Firefighters, Vet Help Dog After Owner Dies In Crash

PLAINFIELD, IL — Days before Thanksgiving, a rollover crash involving a tractor-trailer claimed the life of the driver. But after working hard to extricate the driver, identified as 74-year-old Edmund Erickson of Sandwich, Plainfield firefighters heard something inside the wrecked vehicle.

"The guys hear this noise," Plainfield Fire Chief Jon Stratton said. Firefighter/paramedic Mike Walden heard a dog bark, and he and Lt. Brandon Vainowski began searching the semi. Stratton said Vainowski grabbed the dog and handed her to firefighter/paramedic Matt Mullins.

Erickson was pronounced dead at the scene. But Stratton said his crew knew they had to do something to help his dog.

Firefighters called the Animal Care Center in Plainfield to let staff know they'd be bringing the dog in to be checked. Stratton said authorities were eventually able to track down relatives of Erickson, but they were unable to care for Sophie.

Now, the fire department's task became twofold: Get Sophie treated for her injuries and find her a new home.

Stratton said firefighters checked in on the injured dog every day after the crash and even stopped in to visit her while she was being treated by veterinarian Josie Arkush.

And it turned out that the fatal crash wasn't the only trauma Sophie had endured. The vet discovered that injuries to her paw and leg occurred when the pooch had been hit by a vehicle prior to the crash. She'd also suffered injuries when she was attacked by a pit bull, Stratton said.

"This dog's been through hell," he said. "Imagine this little dog being in the semi when it rolled over ... I (told the vet), 'Do what you gotta do.'"

Sophie was treated for her injuries, and Stratton said the fire department wanted to make sure she wouldn't be alone for Thanksgiving.

"Our big concern is we didn't want Sophie sitting at the vet over the holiday," he said.

Luckily, Sophie's plight also tugged at the heartstrings of the veterinarian who treated her. Stratton said that after discussing it with her husband, Arkush decided to bring Sophie home to be part of the family.

Sophie, whom the vet believes is around 7 or 8 years old, even had a holiday photo taken with her new family in front of the Christmas tree.

"It's been awesome," Stratton said.