Family searches for son's emotional support dog after deadly motorcycle crash

A family is asking for help finding their loved one's emotional support dog that they said was given away after a deadly motorcycle accident. 

Kasey Whilden, 24, was killed in a motorcycle crash in Atlantic Beach, Florida, on Oct. 20.

His girlfriend, Jennifer Reed, was also killed after a man driving a truck failed to yield the right of way to Whilden's motorcycle.

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Whilden's mom, Rita Rodriguez, said she lost her son and in the process, also lost his best friend and companion, Bubby.

She said a day after Whilden died, his girlfriend's family gave his 3-year-old dog Bubby to a stranger at an animal control center.

Bubby is an emotional support dog that helped Whilden deal with anxiety and depression, his mom said.

Rodriguez said Whilden's family wanted to keep the dog.

"I've got family devastated by the loss of Kasey," Rodriguez said, "(and) then to be devastated by the loss of Bubby and not knowing where he's at, I want him home."

Reed's family said they didn't have contact information for Whilden's family.

"I'm not trying to hinder their mourning," Jerry Bessell said. "I would have cooperated and given them their dog."

Rodriguez said her family is hoping Bubby's new owners will give him back.

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