NEED TO KNOW
-
Wilmington, Mass., is mourning the loss of Zena, a 3-year-old police therapy dog killed in a two-car crash on Sept. 23
-
Zena and handler Samantha Cavanaugh, who was in the car with the dog during the crash, worked with the Wilmington Police’s Health & Recovery Unit
Wilmington, Mass., residents are mourning the death of a police therapy dog named Zena, who died as a result of a two-vehicle car crash on Tuesday, Sept. 23, at approximately 8 a.m.
According to a Wilmington Police press release obtained by PEOPLE, the incident occurred in Tewksbury when a Mazda 3, driven by a 26-year-old woman, allegedly crossed the double yellow line in the road, striking the Toyota Camry of Samantha Cavanaugh, a clinician with the Wilmington Police Department and Zena’s handler. Zena was also in the car with Cavanaugh.
Because of Massachusetts’s Nero’s Law, which allows service animals to be transported in an ambulance when they are injured in the line of duty, first responders took Zena via ambulance to Bulger Animal Hospital in Lawrence.
Wilmington Police
3-year-old Zena
The Bernedoodle was announced dead at the hospital. She was three years old.
Cavanaugh sustained minor injuries in the crash and was also transported to a local hospital via ambulance.
PEOPLE reached out to the Tewksbury Police Department, which is leading the investigation into the crash, headed by Police Chief Ryan Columbus, and have yet to receive a response.
Zena was beloved in the community as a comfort dog, visiting community groups, schools, and senior citizen centers. Together, Zena and Cavanaugh handled the Wilmington Police Health & Recovery Unit (HRU), which, as described by Wilmington Police, “focuses on behavioral health — mental health, substance use, developmental health, etc. — which impact Wilmington individuals, families, and friends on a daily basis.”
The dog and handler duo partnered with their local police department, fire department, and veteran and elder affairs organizations to assist community members with their emotional wellness.
PEOPLE reached out to Cavanaugh, who did not immediately respond to the request for comment.
According to a statement released by the Tewksbury Police Department, the driver of the Mazda 3, whose name has not been released to the public, will be summoned and charged with negligent operation of a motor vehicle and a marked lane violation.
“Zena was a beloved member of our Wilmington Police family, and a beloved member of our community,” Wilmington Police Chief Brian Pupa said, per CBS News. “For three years, Zena put residents and families at ease even during the toughest of times, and her work will not be forgotten. She served her community well.”
Zena joined the Wilmington Police in January 2022, when she was just 8 weeks old.
Read the original article on People
