Heartbroken army vet frantically searching for missing service dog after car accident

Billy Connolly plays harmonica for his dogs

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Rob Gillette was on his way to a restaurant on the evening of May 29 when he lost control of his car and crashed into a tree. Once he was able to safely exit the vehicle, he went to check on his dog, named Gage, in the backseat – but he was gone. The service dog helps the United States Marine Corps veteran with a range of things, such as his PTSD and reminding him to take his medication.

Speaking to CBS News, Mr Gillette said: “He helps me with my PTSD, he helps me with my medications, he helps me with my anxiety, he helps me with my claustrophobia.

“From what I think is he took off from the initial shock of the accident, and then he came back and noticed I was hurt, and went to go find someone to help him, and just never came back.”

Gage suffers from a skin allergy which has made Mr Gillette all the more concerned over his safety, as he could be going untreated.

The accident happened in Scottsville, Virginia and Mr Gillette believes his beloved pooch is somewhere between James River Road and Mountain Vista Road.

Mr Gillette added: “I had a professional dog tracker come out with search dogs to look for him, and that’s kind of the general area that his scent just disappears.”

The worried veteran has been using social media, missing dog posters and neighbourhood searched to try and find Gage.

The lack of results in his search has led the man to believe someone may have stolen Gage.

He said: “I don’t know how they wouldn’t have realised he’s a service dog because he still had his vest on. He had a collar on with his name, my phone number, my address. His service vest has a pouch with an ID in it.”

Since Gage costs around $18,000, Mr Gillette is scared people may be reluctant to come forward – so he has offered a $1,000 reward for his safe return.

He wants people to be aware that all he wants is his best friend back and that no questions will be asked when he gets him.

Mr Gillette said: “I’m not worried about that, I’m just worried about him coming home. I’m not going to be mad at anybody, I just want the dog home. I didn’t realise how much that dog affected everybody else in my life. I’m going to cry, but he affects my life.”

If you have any information, please contact Rob Gillette at +1 (703) 297-6627 or Vicki Cabbage at +1 (434) 825-3481.

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