Resilient Dog Survives Devastating Tornado in Mississippi

Severe stormy weather in the South quickly turned life-threatening as storm warnings turned into tornado warnings over the weekend (and then into the early week) of April 26. According to CNN, the death toll since Sunday, April 27 is at 35. And there are other victims of the storms… many beloved pets and animals.

Constance Lambert, a resident of Tupelo, Miss., found herself out of town at an event on Monday when a deadly tornado touched down in the area of her home. Hearing the news of the tornado, Constance instantly worried about the safety of her dog at home, which was right in the path of the deadly tornado. As she arrived back at home, she saw the wreckage where her house once stood as well as the destroyed neighborhood and feared the worst for her dog.

But, wonderful news! He was found alive wandering through the debris. The worry washed away as Constance scooped up her pup into a long, tight embrace.

Britney Butler is another Tupelo resident whose home was destroyed and had a dog caught in the tornado’s path. ”It hurts to look, because I won’t come home tonight,” Britney Butler told WMC-TV. She managed to smile after discovering her dog had come out of the devastation unscathed. “Oreo means the most to me.”

Disaster relief, immediate care, food and water, is being provided by organizations like the American Red Cross and The Salvation Army, which has a specific tornado relief fund set up. Pets are also victims of the storms. You can make a donation to the Humane Society’s Disaster Relief Fund to help save and care for animals impacted by disasters. See CNN’s How to Help Storm Victims page for more ways to Donate to groups aiding those affected by the storms and tornadoes.

If you live near any areas of devastation and have the means available, see if you can help out by cleaning up or donating food, water, supplies, first aid kits, pet food, blankets, or providing temporary shelters to those who have lost their homes. You can also volunteer to search for lost pets to reunite them with their families or take them to a shelter for any needed care.

Image source: Life With Dogs