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They focused on her safety

Three police officers set aside risks to their health to save a woman distraught over her dog's illness.

By LORRI HELFAND
Published October 7, 2005

LARGO - Tipped off by a call from a local veterinarian Tuesday, three Largo police officers rushed to a woman's home to save her.

The veterinarian had received a letter from the 69-year-old woman outlining instructions for her property after her death.

She was distraught because her beloved Doberman pinscher is terminally ill with cancer.

I just couldn't take anymore in my life. I am too dismally depressed, the woman typed.

Handwritten at the top were the words, By the time you read this I will be gone.

Sgt. Andy Hill and Officers Keith Snyder and Karl Gracy cautiously entered through an unlocked front door.

They knew the woman owned three Dobermans.

They didn't know she had already boarded Parker, Bella and Lainie at the Animal Hospital of Largo, to which she sent the letter.

Searching the house room by room, they smelled an unusual odor and their eyes started to burn.

But the officers were too preoccupied with saving the woman to think about their own welfare.

"I was really worried we were going to find her dead," Gracy said.

A few minutes later, they rushed to the garage where they were hit by strong emissions coming from the woman's Dodge Caravan.

They found her lying on a blanket, her head near the minivan's exhaust pipe, a glass of water with a straw within close reach.

The Caravan was locked and its engine was running.

The woman's wrists had been slashed and she was weaving in and out of consciousness. Snyder and Hill carried her out the side door and laid her on the lawn.

After a medical crew treated her with oxygen, she came to.

"She tried to go back inside, telling us she didn't want to live anymore," Hill said.

"I felt bad for the woman. These are her companions. These are family members," said Gracy, who, by a sad coincidence, had to euthanize his own dog Friday.

The woman was transported to Morton Plant Hospital for medical and psychological treatment.

Gracy was treated with oxygen and saline by Largo Fire Rescue. Snyder and Hill, who had severe headaches, were tested for carbon monoxide poisoning at Largo Medical Center and released a few hours later.

The three dogs remain at the animal hospital.

Snyder, who recently celebrated his four-year anniversary with the department, said officers are used to sad scenes like this.

"After four years, you've seen it all. No one got hurt. So it was basically a good day," he said.

Lorri Helfand can be reached at 445-4155 or at lorri@sptimes.com

[Last modified October 7, 2005, 01:50:23]