A visually impaired Brevard County man is reunited with his service dog after four worrisome days.
Sasha, a 1-year-old German Shepherd mix, was given to the Duncan family, of Palm Bay, just a couple of weeks ago.
Christopher Duncan is legally blind after he was diagnosed with a rare form of glaucoma in 2012. He was in the process of getting Sasha officially registered as a special needs dog, and so he called Brevard County Animal Services on Feb. 23.
"They took my address down, took the name of the dog down, where we would register he and, 30 minutes later, (Brevard County) Sheriff's Office deputies came," Duncan said Saturday.
The deputies took Sasha, telling Duncan that his family could pick her up soon, but paperwork needed to be completed.
When the family got to the shelter, they were told Duncan wasn't fit to own a dog because, according to records, he abandoned another dog two years ago.
That information was incorrect, Duncan said.
Thinking the mix-up would work itself out, Duncan's wife inquired about Sasha's situation.
"They just adopted Sasha out, and it was less than 24 hours since I had seen her," Duncan said.
He was devastated. He started making phone calls and tried to get help. Duncan's wife suggested he contact the Sheriff's Office. Duncan wrote a letter to Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey, whose department now oversees animal services in the county.
That letter put the wheels in motion.
Ivey apologized to the family and said they could pick up Sasha the next day.
"The main thing for me was to reunite you with your dog and tell you I wish this hadn't happened," Ivey told the Duncans over the phone.
After four days of not knowing if they'd ever see Sasha again, the four-legged friend is back home and even more protective of the family than she has been.
Duncan said he got his dog back and was relieved that their plight was heard by officials.
"You're important to me," Duncan said of how he felt after speaking with Ivey. "That's how that call came through."