PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) – The Virginia-based non-profit Greater Atlantic Rescue Dogs (GARD) announced the passing of Maddy, a Search and Rescue (SAR) K9 who assisted in the search for Codi Bigsby.
According to a Facebook post from GARD K9 Search and Rescue, on Sept. 16, Maddy was assisting in a search for a missing person with the Louisa County Sheriff’s Office, when she came in contact with a toxic substance. As a result, Maddy died four days later, on Sept. 20, surrounded by her family.
Maddy, who was 11 at the time of her passing, responded to over 100 search and rescue missions across Virginia during her 11 years training with GARD. During one of the missions, Maddy was able to find a person in critical condition, eventually leading to their lives being saved.
Maddy’s handler, Andrew Piske, told 10 On Your Side Maddy also helped with several cases in the Hampton Roads area, including missing mother and daughter Keir and Chloe Johnson in Hampton, missing 3-year-old Codi Bigsby and 2-year-old Noah Tomlin.
Piske also said both he and Maddy were the only SAR K9 handler that testified in the Cory Bigsby case.
Due to Maddy and Piske being volunteers, Piske is financially responsible for Maddy’s loss. As a result, a GoFundMe has been set up to assist Piske.
