Sully The Therapy Dog

June 30, 2020

A Tampa family’s therapy dog that was missing all weekend and into Monday has finally been reunited with his owners, and it took a village to do so.

The search for Sully captivated the attention of an entire community. All eyes were glued to Laura Holland’s Facebook page all weekend for updates on her son’s missing therapy dog. Laura’s son Liam is a brain cancer survivor.

Laura initially posted about Sully’s disappearance Saturday at 9:52 a.m. She said the dog was accidentally let out by staff at Pet Paradise, a boarding service.

At 12:47 on Saturday, Laura took to Facebook again recruiting anyone who can “confidently help comb” a 2-mile radius in a wooded area in Wesley Chapel.

“If you have tall boots and aren’t afraid of critters, please meet my husband right behind BB&T Bank off Route 56.”

Laura was told Sully escaped Pet Paradise while still attached to his leash and was thinking her dog got stuck on something in the woods and was “desperately trying to survive in this heat.”

At 2 p.m. Laura asked her Facebook friends if anyone knew a police officer who may have a K-9 that could assist in the search.

About two hours later, Laura and her family began placing flyers up around the community.

Later that afternoon, Pet Paradise announced a $500 reward for Sully’s return. Laura considered reaching out to the media.

By 10 p.m. Saturday night and after over 12 hours of searching, Sully was still missing. Laura’s husband left the house to check a spot where they left their clothes and some food and water earlier that evening. No Sully.

The cash reward for Sully was now over $1,000, Laura estimaged, as the community was offering to chip in on top of Pet Paradise’s $500 reward.

Sunday morning around 9:20 a.m. Laura said they received a possible Sully spotting at a Walgreens in the Westchase area. It was a false alarm.

By Sunday evening, Sully was still missing. The entire day, starting at 6 a.m., was spent looking for him with food stations, professional traps, and prayers. Thermal cameras were planned for after sunset.

Monday at 2:57 p.m.: “WE GOT SULLY!! This absolute hero (John) in the navy shirt ran his little heart down the ramp off 75 and rescued our boy.”

Laura said a tip came in around 1:15 p.m. that Sully was in a Haverty’s parking lot — about two miles from the family’s home near State Road 56 and Interstate 75. As Sully was being surrounded, Laura said he took off and ended up on the interstate.

“At one point everyone stopped running and I thought he was gone again but then I saw John carrying our boy in his arms and walking back towards me – straight out of a movie.”

Police assisted Sully’s rescue team safely off the interstate.

Laura said Sully is “Safe. Filthy, but safe.” The dog was taken to the veterinarian for a few hours for hydration and grooming. Over $5,000 has been raised for the “heroes” that helped bring Sully home.

  • Most Recent News

    Former Victoria man’s diabetic alert dog helps him get back to life

    June 2, 2021

    When Luke Hengen’s diabetes worsened in his early twenties, it stripped him of the outdoor activities where the country kid felt at home. Countless wilderness adventures and years of hard-fought football games took a toll on his body, to the point where he could no longer sense when his blood sugar was too high or […]

    Read more

    Students Get Therapy Dog

    January 8, 2021

    When middle school students return to class on Jan. 11, they’ll find a new face at the door: Daisy. Daisy is a therapy dog and the personal pet of Rob Kreger, principal of the Rock L. Butler Middle School. The five-year-old golden retriever is not a school pet or mascot, but rather a working dog […]

    Read more

    Therapy Dogtor

    January 8, 2021

    Last March, Caroline Benzel, a third-year medical student, began to notice the stress and discomfort her nurse friends were feeling from the pressures of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. “[Personal protective equipment] can be really rough on the skin,” Benzel, 31, tells PEOPLE. Benzel and her 3-year-old Rottweiler, Loki (who’s also a therapy dog) hatched a […]

    Read more

    Therapy Dog Pups

    January 8, 2021

    When Stanley the miniature fox terrier’s owner passed away, the little dog started a ‘paw-some’ new role – bringing puppy love to some of the Gold Coast’s oldest residents. After Carinity Cedarbrook Diversional Therapist Julianne Staff adopted Stanley, he began visiting the aged care community at Mudgeeraba as a therapy dog. Therapy dogs help to […]

    Read more

    Puppy Cams

    January 7, 2021

    A nonprofit is providing an unusual form of therapy for those on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic – puppy cams! “You spend five minutes with a puppy and try not to smile,” said registered nurse Robin Lingg Lagrone. Lingg Lagrone says watching little furballs wag their tails and prance on their paws helps […]

    Read more

    Pet Committee

    January 7, 2021

    When Moore County’s school doors were abruptly closed earlier in 2020, two- and four-legged volunteers from the Moore County Citizens’ Pet Responsibility Committee (PRC) were in their 12th year of presenting a six-session Pet Responsibility Education Program for fourth-graders. The PRC quickly shifted gears and placed its program materials online as part of a home […]

    Read more

    The Right Rescue Dog

    January 7, 2021

    If your New Year’s resolution is to add a canine family member, good for you. Somewhere out there is the perfect puppy or adult dog for your family. You have a lot of things to think about when you begin to look for that new family member, puppy or dog? Large or small? Purebred or […]

    Read more

    Police Dog Attack

    January 7, 2021

    A resolution headed to the Duluth City Council on Monday could put to rest a lawsuit filed by Teri Lynn Ehlers, an employee of the Patch Motel, who was bitten by a Duluth police dog named Oakley. Former Duluth Police Officer Marc Johnson was a registered guest of the Warroad establishment May 28, 2018, when […]

    Read more

    PAWS With A Cause

    January 7, 2021

    Pebble Hill Plantation and the Thomas County Public Library are pleased to announce the upcoming Enlightening Bites program, “PAWS With a Cause,” on Friday, January 8, 2021 at noon in the Flipper Room of the Library. The program is being presented by Jeri Anderson, field representative. Anderson is recently retired from the City of Monticello, […]

    Read more

    Police Canine Team

    January 7, 2021

    Kingston Police revealed in a news release late Wednesday afternoon that they’ve been keeping a four-legged secret for roughly three months. The force announced it added a second canine unit, with the arrival of police service dog Dak this past October. He is working with Const. Jeff Dickson, while police service dog Bask is working […]

    Read more

    More Recent News