Ormond Beach, FL - There's more than one hero in the rescue and recovery of Max, a miniature schnauzer owned by David Sickles, a homeless veteran who's been staying at the Baymont Hotel in Ormond Beach. There are also three suspects in the theft of Max from a chair outside Sickles's room. One, who gave his license to the hotel clerk trying to get a room, is identified as 51-year-old William Cash, whose picture is attached to this story. A woman that was with Cash was seen by a witness picking the dog up from a chair and walking away. There is also another male suspect.
Sickles told News Daytona Beach that he left Max in a chair outside his room at about 6:30 p.m. on Saturday (April 17). When he returned Max was gone. He looked for Max but the witness said that the woman picked the dog up and the three people got into a vehicle and left.
Max was found about 30 minutes later, injured on the side of Granada Boulevard near the Wawa gas station at Tomoka Avenue. Sickles says the man who found Max is the owner of Billy's Tap, an Ormond Beach restaurant. "He told me he seen a dog in distress on the side of the road. When the police got there, he personally picked the dog up and put the dog in the cruiser instead of waiting for animal control."
OBPD transported Max to Animal Emergency Hospital - Volusia (AEHV) where he was checked for a microchip and Sickles was notified. He said at 4:30 Sunday morning, he was told by AEHV that he needed to come up with more than $5,000 or they might have to euthanize Max. After negotiating with AEHV, Sickles was able to take Max from the hospital after paying $600.
Through a friend, Sickles was referred to East Coast Animal Hospital in Palm Coast. He said they worked on Max all day and were able to stabilize him. The veterinarians there told him they would waive the $997 fees incurred that day and then asked him if it was okay if they posted a request for donations for Max's care to their Facebook page. Sickles is paying kindness forward. "Donations came and they made enough for the surgery for Max. She asked me if any others come in what would I want done. I told her for aftercare or for somebody else who has an animal in the same situation, let it go to them."
Max will be going for surgery at a Jacksonville Animal Hospital to repair two breaks in his right front leg.
Anyone with information on William Cash, the theft, or what happened to Max between the time he was taken and the time he was found on the side of the road is asked to contact OBPD at 386-248-1777.
