A $20,000 service dog trained to assist a 6-year-old boy with cerebral palsy has been returned to Pennsylvania police by the attorney for the woman charged with stealing the animal.
Online court records don’t name the attorney who brought the Golden Retriever named Christmas to the city’s police station on behalf of 24-year-old Elizabeth Ann Flaherty and she doesn’t have a listed phone.
Police say the dog was trained by 4 Paws for Ability, then placed with Flaherty earlier this year. Flaherty was supposed to be the dog’s foster owner until the disabled boy received the dog, but she allegedly told officials at 4 Paws for Ability that the dog ran away.
Police say a veterinarian was able to track the dog using an implanted microchip and called police when Flaherty had the animal examined in June, but she ran away with the animal.