Police Therapy Dog and ‘Beloved Member of the Community’ Dies in Two-Car Crash in Massachusetts

Wilmington, Mass., is grieving the loss of Zena, a police therapy dog who died following a two-vehicle crash on Tuesday, Sept. 23, around 8 a.m.

According to a Wilmington Police press release obtained by PEOPLE, the accident took place in Tewksbury when a 26-year-old woman driving a Mazda 3 allegedly crossed the double yellow line and struck a Toyota Camry driven by Samantha Cavanaugh, a clinician with the Wilmington Police Department and Zena’s handler. Zena was also in the vehicle at the time.

Thanks to Massachusetts’s Nero’s Law — which permits injured service animals to be transported by ambulance when hurt in the line of duty — first responders rushed Zena to Bulger Animal Hospital in Lawrence. The Bernedoodle was later pronounced dead. She was 3 years old.

Cavanaugh sustained minor injuries and was also transported to a nearby hospital.

PEOPLE reached out to the Tewksbury Police Department, which is leading the investigation under Police Chief Ryan Columbus, but has not yet received a response.

Zena held a special place in the community as a comfort dog, frequently visiting schools, senior centers, and local organizations. Together, Zena and Cavanaugh worked with the Wilmington Police Health & Recovery Unit (HRU), which focuses on behavioral health issues including mental health, substance use, and developmental challenges that impact residents and their families.

The pair also partnered with the fire department and veteran and elder affairs groups to support emotional wellness throughout the community.

According to a statement from the Tewksbury Police Department, the Mazda driver, whose name has not been released, will be charged with negligent operation of a motor vehicle and a marked lane violation.

“Zena was a beloved member of our Wilmington Police family, and a beloved member of our community,” Wilmington Police Chief Brian Pupa said, per CBS News. “For three years, Zena put residents and families at ease even during the toughest of times, and her work will not be forgotten. She served her community well.”

Zena joined the Wilmington Police in January 2022, when she was just 8 weeks old.