Rosco, lost in a tornado

No more waiting for Rosco
By Mary Milz
Dec 18, 2013 6:09 PM EST

Christmas came a week early for a Fountain County girl who got her missing dog back.

Wednesday, 10-year-old Madison Pritchard was reunited with her beloved dog Rosco, one month after he disappeared during the tornado that swept across the small town of Mellott.

Kyla Robinson says her family was at a baby shower in Crawfordsville when the tornado struck. They rushed home to find their home damaged and Rosco gone.

"The night it happened, (Madison) was devastated and just fell to the ground," Kyla said of Madison.

Rosco had been tied to a long chain that allowed him to sit on the front porch. The chain was broken.

"We looked in the barn, under the house, everywhere, just in case he was somewhere safe," Kyla said.

Rosco didn't have tags or any identification, so a man took him to the Clinton County Humane Society, 45 miles from home. Five days later, he was adopted by a woman looking for a companion for her senior dog.

The reunion is something Madison's mom feared she'd never see until several calls yesterday.

Madison and her family continued to look for Rosco, but feared he was dead. Then a neighbor posted his picture online and they were able to track him down, but his new owner initially didn't want to give him up.

The woman said she had lost her husband and another dog in the past year, so she's been having a tough time. Her children had already bonded to Rosco, making the decision even tougher.

"I'm just so thankful she understands how much my daughter loves Rosco that she's willing to give him up," Kyla Robinson, Madison's mom, said. "I understand why she wouldn't want to give him back because I would struggle too, but I'm so glad she did."

For Madison, the reunion couldn't come soon enough. Rosco greeted her with enthusiasm and doggy kisses, and obviously had never forgotten his family.

"I wish he could talk to me and tell me what happened," Madison said.

Eyewitness News rode with the family part of the way home. Rosco seemed to know exactly where he was going. Since Madison took the day off from school, they have all day to play.

13 WTHR Indianapolis

Robinson did agree to reimburse the woman the $275 she paid in fees and other costs associated with adopting Rosco. She said she's not upset with the woman nor the Humane Society. She's just happy to get Rosco home and in time for Christmas.

The Humane Society is working with the woman who adopted Rosco to help her family find another pet.

Source: http://www.wthr.com/story/24239003/2013/12/17/indiana-family-trying-to-get-back-dog-lost-in-tornado

Dexter, pitbull

Dog found under rubble 9 days after Ill. tornado
Associated Press
November 29, 2013


WASHINGTON, Ill. (AP) — A six-month-old pit bull that was buried under a pile of rubble for more than a week after a tornado ripped through a central Illinois city has been coaxed to freedom with hot dogs and reunited with his owner.

Jacob Montgomery, a member of the Illinois National Guard, was separated from the dog, Dexter, when the Nov. 17 tornado destroyed his third-floor apartment in Washington. Montgomery combed through the wreckage multiple times but turned up no sign of Dexter.

Nine days after the storm, a neighbor who was looking for his cat, also missing, with the help of a group called Rescuing Animals in Need sent Montgomery a Facebook message to tell him Dexter had been found partially buried in debris where the apartment building used to stand.

"He said, 'I've got your dog right here,'" Montgomery recalled in a statement released by the Illinois National Guard. "As soon as Dexter saw me, his tail started going."

The pooch was in relatively good shape.

"The vet said he has no real injuries — just a few scrapes and cuts," said Montgomery, who got Dexter as a puppy to keep him company when he moved from Champaign. "He was malnourished, but he's going to be fine."

The Washington tornado was part of a band of heavy storms that brought rain, high winds and a rash of twisters to Illinois, and left seven people dead in its wake.

Montgomery has been a military police officer with the Illinois Army National Guard for more than five years and is trained to respond to emergencies. But he says he's never been the victim of such a disaster.

"All I had in my apartment is gone, but my dog was all I really had to worry about," he said.

Montgomery is staying with a friend in nearby Peoria until he can find a new home.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/dog-found-under-rubble-9-days-ill-tornado-191006023.html

Stella, lost during a tornado

The Search for Stella: Storm Victims Reunited With Lost Dog
11/19/2013

PEKIN - Many dogs and cats are still homeless as shattered communities work to rebuild. Now, their owners are turning to social media as a way to find their pets. Thanks to technology, those efforts are paying off.

Sunday aftermath:

Tornado victims Josh Stevens and Margaret Greenhalgh don't have a place to live. Their belongings are gone. But their lives are complete…all because of  Stella.

"It’s been a pretty profound situation since I found her,” said Stevens.

On Sunday, the pair arrived at their Washington apartment complex to a disaster scene.

"The kitchen wall is gone, the roof is tore off,” Stevens described.  “Worst case scenarios were running through my head.”

The young dog was nowhere to be found.

"Everybody’s like, ‘Well, what are you going to do?  We've been wondering where you're going to go.’  I didn't care," said Stevens.  "Nothing mattered because I didn't have her."

“She’s our baby, she’s just so sweet,” said Greenhalgh.

The days passed. Frantic, Stevens turned to social media looking for leads on his long lost pal.

"I posted the picture of her and the caption just said, ‘Lost contact me.’  It just kind of steamrolled,” said Stevens.

A photo, shared nearly 10,000 times.

“It wasn't just Illinois,” said Stevens.  “There were people in Wisconsin, Tennessee, and Louisiana that were hitting me up.  It was wonderful."

Shortly after, Stevens received a call from a local animal clinic. Stella had been located.

 "I wish I could thank whoever found her.  I'm indebted to them."

"Thank you, thank you so much for helping us out,” added Greenhalgh.  “Now it’s happy tears.”

All because of a Facebook post.




The power of communication, that sent Stella back home.

"For those who haven't found their pets yet...don't give up,” said Greenhalgh.

“I wish I could thank everybody one by one,” said Stevens.

Good Deeds:

The couple is now using social media to help other storm victims find their pets.

Source: http://www.centralillinoisproud.com/story/the-search-for-stella-storm-victims-reunited-with-lost-dog/d/story/t2S2KghrTEap2eGkxedT1Q

Bowser, schnauzer

Oklahoma City tornado survivor finds dog under rubble during live TV interview
Tuesday 21 May 2013

Amid the devastation wrought by a tornado in the suburbs of Oklahoma City survivors are clinging to any glimmers of hope as they prepare to rebuild their shattered lives.

Watch the video with extended coverage of the dog's rescue

One such ray was provided by and for elderly Moore resident Barbara Garcia, who found her dog buried alive under the rubble of her home during a live TV interview.

Mrs Garcia was describing lying under the wreckage of her home and calling out for her dog but receiving no answer when CBS news presenter Anna Werner spotted movement underneath a pile of debris.

‘Bless your little-bitty heart,’ Mrs Garcia says as the shaken but otherwise unhurt dog emerges into the daylight.

‘Well I thought God had just answered one prayer to let me be OK, but he answered both of them, because this was my second prayer.’

Such stories are sadly rare in Moore, where rows upon rows of houses have been levelled and a primary-age school took a direct hit from the tornado.

At least 91 people have been killed as a result of the twister, while US president Barack Obama has declared a state of emergency.

Source: http://metro.co.uk/2013/05/21/oklahoma-city-tornado-survivor-finds-dog-under-rubble-during-live-tv-interview-3802753/

Video with extended coverage of the dog's rescue: http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=50147264n
Follow-up at http://perezhilton.com/teddyhilton/2013-05-29-oklahoma-tornado-survivor-reunited-with-lost-dog-live-tv-needs-help-fund-raiser#.Uac7z7G9KSM

Daphne, pit bull mix

Joplin Family Finds Lost Dog on Petango
Susan Arts, Pethealth Inc
06/03/11

OAKVILLE, ONTARIO --  While most Americans spent last Sunday celebrating the Memorial Day long weekend, thanks to online pet portal Petango.com, one family was engaged in a very different kind of celebration-an emotional reunion with their family pet Daphne, a handsome Pit Bull mix who went missing following the tornado in Joplin, Missouri.

"We looked for her for a whole week," says Whitney Williams of Joplin, MO. "We went to the Joplin Humane Society every day so I wasn't really looking on Petango but then on Sunday I got the feeling I should try, and there she was."

Although the majority of displaced pets brought to the shelter remain in the care of the Joplin Humane Society, Daphne was brought in by a concerned citizen who chose to keep the distraught dog with her rather than leave her in a kennel.

Daphne's information and picture were uploaded onto Petango.com, and the dog went home with her rescuer. Although Petango.com typically features adoptable pets, via its live feed from animal management software PetPoint, it is uniquely able to create lost pet pages, such as the listing created for lost pets following the Tuscaloosa tornadoes.

In this case, Petango.com developed a page specifically for displaced pets in the care of Joplin Humane Society to improve the chances for successful reunification with pet owners.

"I knew it was her in the picture," says Williams. "But when I went to the Joplin Humane Society warehouse she wasn't there, so one of the staff took her ID number from the Petango profile and looked her up in the system. It came back saying she was in foster."

Once back at the shelter, Daphne bolted from the vehicle into the outstretched arms of her waiting family.

"Seeing Daphne reunited with her family was wonderful," says Jorge Ortega, Emergency Responder and Regional Director, Shelter Outreach at Pethealth Inc., who assisted Williams when looking for her dog.

"We've been working nonstop for days so it was a great feeling to realize all that hard work is really paying off and we can make a difference for people and their pets."

In addition to assisting the search, Ortega has offered to supply Daphne with a 24Petwatch microchip to protect her against future loss. As part of a coordinated effort to reduce strays, pets adopted from organizations using PetPoint and Petango are automatically microchipped through the 24Petwatch microchip program. Once registered, the contact information associated with the unique microchip ID is used to notify the owner if the pet becomes lost and is found.

"Get your dog microchipped and never give up looking," says Williams. "We didn't give up and now we are so happy to have her back."

For a family that lost everything in the tornado, Daphne's return has provided a measure of comfort and closure as they prepare to move back to Chicago where friends and relatives can help them start anew.

About Petango.com, ThePetangoStore.com and 24Petwatch Microchip ID

• Petango.com is the only adoptable search site that exclusively uses live animal data feeds from over 1,650 animal welfare organizations and offers a wide range of content-rich options for potential adopters, shelters and anyone who wants to learn more about pet adoption. It is the one-stop destination for anyone looking to adopt a pet from an animal welfare organization and participate in an interactive, social networking pet lovers' community in North America. It is also the exclusive provider of Petango Petmatch™ through which potential adopters can search for pets that match their personality based on lifestyle and preferences.
• ThePetangoStore.com is the place to shop for pets and help save homeless pets with a percentage of every purchase donated back to the animal shelter of the shopper's choice. ThePetangoStore.com offers a full range of discounted pet medications and pet supplies, including brand names such as Frontline, Advantage, Heartgard and K9 Advantix.
• 24Petwatch has been dedicated to the safety of cats and dogs since 2003. With a comprehensive line of exclusive products and services designed to enhance and protect the lives of companion animals, 24Petwatch gives pet owners and their pets access to health, happiness and peace of mind. If a lost pet is found with a collar tag, call 24Petwatch at 1-866-597-2424 immediately. A 24Petwatch lost pet recovery specialist will report the pet as found and contact the owner so they can be reunited with their pet. If there is no collar tag or if the tag is unreadable or scratched, found pets should be taken to the nearest animal shelter or veterinary clinic so the pet can be scanned for the presence of a microchip. For more information about 24Petwatch Microchip ID and 24Petwatch Insurance programs, visit http://www.24petwatch.com/.

Source: http://www.sys-con.com/node/1860004

Shadow, shar pei chow mix

Days later, trooper pulls puppy from debris
By Travis Andersen, Globe Staff
June 5, 2011

Amid the devastation left in the wake of the tornadoes that ripped through central and western Massachusetts on Wednesday, a state trooper has brought a measure of joy to a family in one of the hardest hit towns.

State Police said in a statement that Trooper Brian Pearl rescued a 25-pound, dark brown Shar-Pei-Chow mix puppy from a collapsed home on Stewart Avenue in Monson on Saturday morning, three days after high winds sucked the dog from its home on a nearby street.

Trooper Brian Pearl and Shadow

Pearl, 37, said in a phone interview today that he was on a looting prevention patrol when a woman on the street "waving frantically at me" prompted him to exit his cruiser. He said the woman told him she could hear a dog barking and whimpering under a collapsed roof nearby.

"You could see the dog had buried itself way in the debris under the roof," said Pearl, an 11-year veteran of the force. "He clearly didn't want to come out. He was petrified."

After neighbors failed to lure the dog out with food, Pearl said he retrieved a long pole from his cruiser used to rescue animals and crawled under the roof, hoping to corral the puppy in a loop at the end of the device. He wore elbow and kneepads to protect himself from the sharp objects that lined his path to the dog.

"There [were] nails, there was stuff everywhere," Pearl said. "All kinds of debris."
He said he was not hurt by the debris and pulled the dog out after it repeatedly slipped from the loop. Once freed, he said, the puppy, later identified as Shadow, went from a state of terror to one of elation.

"He was wagging his tail like crazy," Pearl said. "Once he came out, he was licking my hand ... he was laughing like crazy."

Pearl said the neighbors knew Shadow's owners, who live near the rescue site on an adjacent street. He said the owners, one of whom State Police identified as Audrey Carabetta, were soon reunited with Shadow, when a Monson police officer brought the dog to their home.

Pearl said he later saw the family in their driveway and watched as their other dog, an adult purebred Shar-Pei, bounded toward Shadow. "You could tell the dogs were happy to see each other," he said.

Pearl said Carabetta hugged him and that the whole family was thrilled to find Shadow alive. He said the family had been unable to bring Shadow down to their basement when the storm hit.

"They could hear [Shadow] barking" during the storm, he said.

Pearl said he was glad to rescue Shadow and provide a ray of hope to a family whose home was badly damaged, like nearly every home in the neighborhood.

"That's part of what we're doing out here, helping out the residents," he said. "Even something simple like that, it made my day, and it made their day."

Source: http://www.boston.com/community/pets/articles/2011/06/05/days_later_trooper_pulls_puppy_from_debris/

Penny, Boston terrier

Piedmont Family Reunited With Lost Pet
Michael Konopasek, News9
Posted: May 31, 2011 11:09 PM EDT
Updated: Jun 01, 2011 11:10 AM EDT

PIEDMONT, Oklahoma -- One week ago Tuesday, tornadoes tore apart some Oklahoma families.

Even amid the destruction, one family near Piedmont never gave up hope they'd be reunited with their lost loved one.

The Evans family home is no longer standing. Thankfully, they were not home when Tuesday's tornadoes plowed through, but one special member of the family was and until today the search for her never stopped.

"I can't believe it," said Dennis Evans, tornado victim who found his dog. "It's amazing. I just can't believe she's in such good shape."

Tuesday was a day to rejoice for Evans after finding his Boston Terrier who had been lost for seven days. And although she is just a dog, to Evans she is a member of the family.

Last Tuesday, shortly after a tornado ripped through the Piedmont area, Evans returned to nothing but a foundation and debris with no dog in sight.

Ever since that moment, for ten hours a day, the search was on, to find Penny!



After a week, many people may have given up, but not the Evans family. Seven days after the tornado hit, someone spotted the spirited black dog.

For Penny and her owner it was joyous occasion. And, although Penny has some ticks after her journey in the wild, Evans says she is doing remarkably well.

Penny and her family are, of course, enjoying each other's company. On the agenda for Wednesday is a visit to the vet's office to get those ticks taken care of.

Source: http://www.newson6.com/story/14773947/piedmont-family-reunited-with-lost-pet?

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