Dog left unclaimed after owner killed in hit-and-run to become service animal

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) – As Metro Nashville detectives continue to look for the driver of a pickup truck accused of hitting and killing a 50-year-old visually impaired woman March 22, Metro Animal Control is giving the woman’s dog a new purpose.

According to MNPD, the woman was walking her dog, named Patch, in the 200 block of Rio Vista Drive when she was hit by what is believed to be a Ford 150 pickup truck. The woman was discovered by a passerby and taken to Skyline Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead, police said.

Patch is now headed to an animal rescue that helps turn rescues into service animals.(MAAC)

Patch was uninjured and walked himself home. He was found sitting at the front door of the woman’s nearby apartment, police said.

Metro Animal Care and Control (MACC) staff have cared for Patch since. But after going unclaimed by his owner’s family, MAAC said Patch is going to be sent to an animal rescue called Medical Mutts, which is tailored for training service animals.

Medical Mutts’ website says it is dedicated to training rescue dogs as service dogs and “promoting collaboration between dogs and people through science, education, and ethical training.”