‘I lost my purpose’: Navy veteran yearning for answers after he says service dog was killed by truck

The evening of May 4, disabled Navy veteran Joshua Whisker thought he was just going for another routine walk with his emotional support dog, Piper, when tragedy struck. Whisker said Piper was sniffing the grass along the sidewalk to urinate near Cypress and Southwest Parkway when suddenly, headlights appeared.

Whisker emotionally described the scene of Piper moving in front of him before a raised silver F150 pulling a black trailer drove over the curb and struck Piper. He said he’d still been holding her leash and the vehicle hit her so forcefully that it tossed her body into the furthest lane of the road and jolted him into the nearest lane.

Whisker said the truck kept driving and his adrenaline was so amplified that he ignored his own injuries to rush to his dog’s side. He said he hurried through traffic to grab her, with cars honking and drivers yelling at him. Being disabled and Piper weighing well over 100 pounds, Whisker said he struggled to pull her lifeless body back to the curb. He explained that he was too weak to carry her so he hurried home and got his car and wife to go retrieve her body.

“I just want the driver of the vehicle to be held responsible for not stopping. I know accidents happen,” Whisker said. “I just think it’s inconceivable that you could hit somebody that hard and not even feel obligated to stop.”

Whisker had gotten Piper in 2020, when she was just four weeks old and she’d spent every moment by his side up until that point. He mentioned that Piper assisted him in many ways other than her company, noting that he often has seizures and Piper was in the habit of laying on him during these episodes to calm him. He also noted that Piper was very protective of him, which is why he believes she moved in front of him when the truck jumped the curb. 

“That dog kind of brought me back to life when I got her and it just kills me inside to know that the last thing she did in this world was save my life,” Whisker said.

After collecting Piper’s body, Whisker and his wife contacted the police to give their statement. He described everything in as best detail as he could recall. He admitted that he wasn’t able to get a look at the driver and had no idea if they hopped the curb because they were drunk or distracted. 

Whisker said the officer that took their statement advised them to post the story to social media in hopes that someone would come forward with more information. Whisker said after they posted to various Wichita Falls Facebook pages, one person did come forward and confirm the vehicle description that Whisker had described in his police statement. Whisker said this person admitted that they had seen the incident happen and regretted not stopping to help.

The officer that had taken the statement left a business card with a number for the front desk but Whisker noted that they’ve called the number multiple times over the week and have gotten no response. In addition, Whisker said they reached out to the office that oversees traffic light cameras in hopes that they may have captured useful footage, but haven’t been able to get ahold of anyone there either. They also stopped by the houses near where the incident took place to see if anyone had security cameras that caught anything but with no luck. 

Whisker expressed that he feels like all he can do now is wait for answers and do his best to move on. He explained that he just wants peace of mind about what happened. In a matter of moments, his world was reduced to pain and questions, and now he just wants to understand what happened. Whisker said he doesn’t expect a miracle — he knows Piper can’t be brought back, but having answers and accountability will help him move on.

“I would just like that person to be held accountable for what they did and to know how they affected my life,” Whisker said. “Honestly, that dog has been my life for six years. She’s never left my side. She’s been my best friend, my companion, my purpose. I lost it — I lost my purpose. I lost everything.”

For those interested in helping Whisker and his family through this time, there’s a few ways to offer support. Whisker’s daughter started a Go Fund Me in hopes of getting Whisker a new service dog when he’s ready. Their goal is to raise $2,000. In addition, the family encourages anyone with information to report it to the Wichita Falls Police Department.

“That wasn’t a dog that was taken away from me. She was more than just a dog — she was part of my family. It feels like losing my kid,” Whisker said.

Several people have recently posted to multiple Wichita Falls Facebook pages about their pets being hit. This, in addition to the various wrecks and accidents that have resulted in casualties as of late, there is more reason than ever to be cautious. While accidents are bound to happen, many of these circumstances can be avoided by responsible driving practices and pedestrian caution. Whisker doesn’t want anyone to feel the pain he’s enduring. He urges those who walk near roads, especially with pets, to “be vigilant. Be aware of cars. You always have to be vigilant.”