Cade and Briggs reunite injured dog and owner

A brave labradoodle and owner were reunited on Tuesday, following an accident on Monday night.

On Monday night, Tate Madden, 27, of Palm Beach, Florida, was traveling from Palm Beach and was passing through Mississippi on her way to Weatherford, Texas. She stopped at the Love’s Truck Stop in Flowers and took her dog, a labradoodle named Billy, for a walk. As she was walking back to her car a young couple in a truck, according to Madden, pulled away from the pump and took a sharp turn striking Madden and Billy. Billy ran away while Madden was on the ground writhing in pain.

Vicksburg paramedic Jessica Cade arrived on the scene via FireMedic 20 and began treating Madden.

During treatment, Madden kept asking about her dog, Billy, in spite of her injuries. A group of people at the accident scene attempted to find the frightened and injured Billy with little success. Madden was transported to Merit Health River Region by Cade in FM 20. Afterwards, Cade made several phone calls and alerted the community about the lost dog on social media.

Tuesday morning, a group of people including Fire Boss Jerry Briggs, were able to locate the frightened white labradoodle less than a mile from the accident site. In spite of their best efforts, the frightened and injured, and at this point hungry, Billy would not come to them. Billy was also close enough to the highway, they were concerned he may run that way. The decision was made to keep an eye on Billy until his owner, Tate Madden, was able to get there.

That is all it took. Soon as Madden got out of her vehicle with her crutches Billy came running to her for an emotional reunion.

Tate Madden reunites with Billy. (Credit: Jerry Briggs)

Billy’s paws were injured but not severely.

Madden’s friends and family from Texas traveled to Vicksburg Tuesday morning to retrieve her, her car and Billy. Tiffini Banuelos, 54, traveled from Weatherford, Texas to load up Madden’s car. “I’ve known her since she was 16 and she is like a daughter to me.”

FireBoss Briggs (Credit: David Day)

After Fire Boss Briggs put the finishing touches to ensure the car was safely loaded, Banuelos began the 7-hour journey home.

FireBoss Jerry Briggs and Tiffani Banuelos(Photo by David Day)