Charlie Sheen Donates \$10,000 For Therapy Dog

Charlie Sheen has shown his softer side by donating \$10,000 (£6,450) to a teenager from Florida to help her pay for a therapy dog.

Teagan Marti, 15, broke her spine and pelvis and suffered brain damage when she plummeted 100ft from a ride at a theme park in Wisconsin in 2010.

Airbags and nets which were supposed to catch thrill-seekers on the free-fall Terminal Velocity attraction were not raised.

Doctors initially thought she had been paralysed in the fall, but she has since learned to walk again with the aid of a walking frame.

A friend of the family who knows Sheen's godfather is believed to have asked him for \$6,000 (£3,870) to cover the cost of training an assistance puppy after the family, who have been paying for Teagan's on-going medical care, ran out of money.

But Sheen arranged for nearly twice that amount to be wired to the family, saying that he found it impossible not to help after receiving the request.

He told Fox News the appeal had a "personal vibe" and that the family could contact him if they needed more help.

Teagan has described the star as "kind and generous" but admitted she didn't know much about Sheen before he sent the money.

The golden retriever, which will be taught to switch on lights and pick up things from the floor, as well as being Teagan's companion, will move in with the family in September, once she has been trained.

No name has yet been chosen, but Sheen joked "I think they should name the dog Charlie."

In July 2012 the Hollywood star donated \$1m (£600,000) to help wounded US soldiers.

Sheen also posted a video message earlier this week appealing for wanted LAPD cop Christopher Dorner to phone him and hand himself in.