Joyful Ending: Quadriplegic Man's Missing Dog Found Safe

AQUEBOGUE, NY — A quadriplegic man in Riverhead was overjoyed after his beloved dog Moe was found Friday.

Daniel Kriedter, 47, who has been a quadriplegic since an accident in 1994, said Friday that his dog ran out the door on May 2 at 8 a.m. And because of his injury, he was unable to search for the pup that's his best friend.

"He never runs out the front door. He just bolted, this one time, in between the nurses changing shifts," said Kriedter's nurse Susie Kennedy.

But on Friday, after a tremendous outpouring of help from the community, Moe was found two miles from home, by a 14-year-old girl in her backyard; he was "shaking," but safe, Kennedy said.

Kriedter wanted to thank the many who searched tirelessly for his faithful friend.

Moe, a two-and-a-half year old chihuahua and Jack Russell terrier mix, was last seen at 10 Broad Avenue in Riverhead.

Kriedter was "heartbroken without his best friend," the poster said.

When asked what his dog means to him, Kriedter voiced his deep emotion for his four-footed companion: "It's unconditional love. When something's wrong, he comes up to my chest and lays there and starts licking," he said.

The community came together in force, an army of angels trying to help, organizing search parties and creating a Facebook page, "Moe Is Missing In Riverhead."

To those who worked fiercely to bring his dog back home safely, Kriedter said, "There are no words to thank you all."

Patch courtesy photo.