PARRISH, FL. (THECOUNT) — Drew Epp the Florida man who recently suffered the loss of his emotional support dog, Java, after the animal was attacked by an alligator in Parish, has sadly committed suicide.
“That was his life,” Drew’s mother, Donna Epp said. “The dog was his life.”
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Parrish, 36, suffered from bipolar disorder and paranoid delusions, but Java was his confidant and constant companion, said his mother.
“He could take care of her, it was very therapeutic for him,” she continued.
The horrific accident occurred last Friday when Java was killed by an alligator while attending Palmetto’s Dog Leg Park.
“He was running after her, and she must have stopped to take a drink of water in the pond when the gator hit her,” Epp said. “Gone. Just ripped out her throat. He finally found her and slung her over his back, and ran back through the dog park,” reports Fox7Austin.
Java died on the way to the animal hospital.
The family says Drew wanted to check in to a mental health facility recently, somewhere he’d been in the past. But the facility couldn’t see him until August.
“No one can ever, ever be turned away who is seeking help for a mental illness issue,” Epp said. “I don’t care if you’re 90 or 9. If you’re asking for mental health [help], you need to get it.”
If you or a loved one is feeling distressed, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. The crisis center provides free and confidential emotional support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to civilians and veterans. Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. Or text to 741-741.
Geo quick facts: Palmetto is a city in Manatee County, Florida, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was listed as 12,606 It is part of the Bradenton–Sarasota–Venice Metropolitan Statistical Area.Wikipedia