Torrington, Connecticut resident Joshua Cohen is appealing to the public for help. Cohen was with his service dog, Samantha, late August 8 when she was struck and killed by a hit-and-run driver on East Main Street. The 5-year-old, German shepherd was struck at about 9 p.m. in the area of 118 East Main St.
“It was such a horrible loss, she meant the world to me. Cohen said “She helped me do so much,” he said. “There were times when if I fell, she would lie with me and we would both get up. She would help me take my shoes and socks off, if there were days when I was too sore to bend over, She was a great dog.”
Cohen was injured in 1998 after a large roller he was operating while constructing a highway threw him off. Cohen landed on his back, fracturing his L4, L5, and S4 vertebrae. After surgery to initially correct the fractures, he was struck from behind while in a car by a school bus, which resulted in four back surgeries. Three more were needed for a spinal cord implant, a small computer that helps with nerve and movement.
“I haven’t walked since I lost her,” Cohen said. “My whole life has changed now to the point where I don’t want to go out if I don’t have to. If I fell now, there may not be someone around to help me get back up.”
A local Church put together a funeral service for Samantha and helped pay the costs associated with the cremation of her body. Now local Police are asking for help in finding the hit and run driver who killed Samantha.
Gosh what a story
Benny & Lily
I hope the person who did this is caught. I know no one can replace Samatha but I hope he gets another service dog.