Therapy Dog Missing After Spooked by Snow Plow

A German Shepard therapy dog named "Savvy" has been missing for a month after being spooked by a snow plow during the February blizzard.

Savvy's handler, Jimmy Red, said the dog backed away into the backyard of his Glenview Avenue, Northport home and disappeared. "She just walked into the backyard and was gone," said Red. "So strange she hasn't shown up, I kind of think someone took her."

Red trained Savvy as a therapy dog for the disabled and sick after obtaining her as a rescue two years ago. Red and Savvy have helped each other during that time: Savvy with Red's sleep apnea, and Red with Savvy's anxiety.

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Savvy was trained using a unique melange of verbal and physical cue's based off of four different languages blended with wolf vocal communications. As a precaution against abduction, Red said he trained Savvy to flee when someone says "come" while not in his presence.

"If you spot her, the word to say is 'la la.' Sit down with your butt on the ground and open your arms wide," said Red.

After putting up flyers all over the area and creating a Facebook page called "Help Bring Savvy Home," Red still has no credible leads as to her whereabouts.

Savvy ran away from 34 Glenview Avenue on Feb. 20 around noon. She is a 10 year old German Shepherd between 60 and 70 pounds with a very long nose, a thin face, and a dark black mask with brown eyes with very little white part showing.

She was wearing a leather collar with a green rabies tag and a purple heart ID tag containing her name and owner's information. She is a submissive, but highly intelligent dog likely to be in a state of anxiety.

"I owe this dog so much and she is needed here at home," said Red. "I am humbled in her great presence and ask for any help possible in aiding her return."

If you spot Savvy or have any leads, contact Jimmy Red at 631-599-9839 or go to the Help Bring Savvy Home Facebook page.

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