The Brunswick News

When man's best friend needs some help, man (and woman) will find a way to come through. At least, that has proven true this week for one special dog in McIntosh County.

Pepper, a 9-year-old black Labrador who works as a drug dog with McIntosh County police, suffered a serious spinal chord injury Dec. 10 when the vehicle of the officer he was patrolling with struck a guard rail on Interstate 95 during a chase.

Officer Don Mumford suffered a broken jaw and several broken bones in his neck, but is recovering. Pepper was unable to move either of his hind legs following the impact.

After visits to two veterinarians in the area, Pepper was taken to a veterinary neurological facility in Jacksonville, where it was confirmed that he had suffered a spinal injury. Any further tests and necessary surgery, though, would cost more than the county could afford, leaving the officers caring for Pepper in a bind.

"We were trying to get him back to being a working dog, or at least happy and retired," said Lt. Ty Poppell, who has worked with Pepper since Pepper joined the force in 1997 to sniff out illegal drugs.

Sheriff's deputy Robert Francisco decided to take matters into his own hands and find Pepper the help he needed. After sending e-mails to several universities and research centers in the area, he got a reply from the Small Animal Veterinary Hospital at the University of Florida.

Roger Clemmons, a veterinary neurologist with the university, wanted to see Pepper. Since Pepper was a public servant injured in the line of duty, the university agreed to give him the help he needed and postpone the incurred expenses.

"When a police officer gets injured, he has workman's comp," Poppell said. "When a police dog gets injured, he's at the mercy and monetary ability of the people who have him."

Pepper was taken to the university hospital Wednesday, where tests confirmed that he had a compression from a spinal disc.

Pepper's story made it into the news in Florida, and received a surprising response. A Florida woman agreed to pay all of Pepper's medical costs.

"I guess it's Christmastime, and time for miracles to happen," Poppell said. The cost of Pepper's surgery was estimated at anywhere from $3,000 and $6,000, Poppell said.

Pepper was scheduled to have surgery to repair the disc Thursday or Friday. The preliminary outlook is promising.

"The progress Pepper has made until now is encouraging," said Sarah Carey, director of public relations for the university's college of veterinary medicine. "Initially, he was paralyzed, but now he has improved to where he (has) weakness and wobbliness on the legs.

"We want him to return to work, but if not, we want him to be self-sufficient and happy. We hope Pepper will be recovering from surgery over the holidays and on the road to returning to work."

Pepper will have to go through a lengthy physical therapy regimen before he makes a full recovery.

His ordeal has touched the people who care about him.

"I've always looked at it as wimpy to cry about something, but I've been close a few times to shedding a tear," Poppell said. "You can't help it with these dogs. He's always gentle. He loves to play. He just gets along with everybody."

Poppell has been so affected by the outpouring of care for Pepper that even his most deep-seated loyalties have been shaken.

"There's not enough good things I can say about the University of Florida right now, and I'm a Bulldog fan," Poppell said. "I might just have to jump ship."