A man and his missing service dog were reunited on Tuesday after nearly a week apart.
As FOX 5 reported on Monday, Shane Wilson had been devastated after his black lab, Lucy, jumped from his truck last week in Commerce and disappeared.
Becky Davis and Tiffany Scoggins had stopped for breakfast at a Cracker Barrel restaurant when they noticed something moving along the fence line of the parking lot.
"It was raining hard and I was like, ‘That's a dog out there by the interstate. I have to get that dog out of the rain and in a safe place,'" said Becky Davis.
"I was surprised; we were kind of worried at first that she might be a little wild or she might bite us, but she came right to us tail wagging. She was a little scared, but once she knew we were friendly and weren't gonna harm her, she was OK," said Scoggins.
The two women walked along the side of the interstate off ramp to get to the cold and stranded pet. When they got ahold of Lucy they figured out that she he was exceptionally well-trained and very intelligent.
"When she picked the treat out of her pocket, she just sat when she saw the treat. We didn't say anything; we knew she was special and a smart dog," said Scoggins.
"We knew at that point that she was somebody's dog. When I got her in the car I went, 'we have this dog in the car, now what are gonna do with her,'" said Davis.
They took the dog to a veterinarian who knew about the missing service dog. They called Shane Wilson, resulting in a joyful reunion.
"You don't know. I'm very, very happy -- happiest man in the world right now," said Shane Wilson.
Wilson and his daughter, Ashley, had been frantically searching for Lucy since her disappearance.
"The phone's been ringing off the hook thanks to [FOX 5.] Had leads all the way from McDonough, Georgia back to up here. I've just been praying all morning and my prayers were answered," Wilson said.
Ashley Wilson gave her father Lucy after he lost his leg in a motorcycle accident.
The women refused to take a $500 reward the Wilsons were offering, saying that the fact that the pet was back with her owner was reward enough.
Thursday, May 23 2013 2:17 PM EDT2013-05-23 18:17:55 GMT
The state rested its case on Thursday in the trial of Michael Parson. He's accused of shooting his wife eight times in April 2011 outside their Sandy Springs apartment.
The state rested its case on Thursday in the trial of Michael Parson. He's accused of shooting his wife eight times in April 2011 outside their Sandy Springs apartment.
Thursday, May 23 2013 1:55 PM EDT2013-05-23 17:55:29 GMT
Police in Palmetto say they're investigating the abduction of a 13-year-old boy.
Police in Palmetto say they're investigating the abduction of a 13-year-old boy. They say he was approached by a man as he got off his school bus on Wednesday, and that man pulled him into a pickup truck. He was able to escape, but the suspect is still on the loose.
Thursday, May 23 2013 1:33 PM EDT2013-05-23 17:33:35 GMT
The wives of first responders in Atlanta took to the picket line on Thursday morning to demand a salary hike for city workers.
The wives and family members of first responders in Atlanta took to the picket line on Thursday morning to demand a salary hike for city workers. They say their loved ones are forced to work extra jobs just to make ends meet, leaving little time for family.
Thursday, May 23 2013 1:06 PM EDT2013-05-23 17:06:09 GMT
The fox responsible for biting two Newton County elementary school students while they played on their school's playground remains on the loose.
The fox that bit two Newton County elementary school students while they played on the playground is still on the loose. Animal control authorities tell FOX 5 someone from Rocky Plains Elementary School reported a fox sighting on campus one day before the boys were attacked.
Thursday, May 23 2013 7:32 AM EDT2013-05-23 11:32:32 GMT
As we celebrate Memorial Day weekend, we'll pause to remember the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces.
As we celebrate Memorial Day weekend, we'll pause to remember the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. It's also a great time to thank veterans for their service to our country—veterans just like World War II American hero Lew Fern.
WHBQ-TV | Fox 13 485 S. Highland St. Memphis, TN 38111
Main Station: (901) 320-1313 Newsroom: (901) 320-1340