Three Dogs Swept Away in Tornadoes Return Home

Three dogs who were swept up in recent tornadoes across the South and feared dead have been reunited with their pet parents.

A terrier mix named Mason was hiding in a North Smithfield, Ala., garage on April 27 when a tornado lifted him up and blew him away.

Two weeks later, when his dog parents returned home to pick through the debris, Mason was sitting on the porch. He had crawled back home with two broken legs.

“This is probably the most dramatic we’ve seen as far as an injury in an animal that’s survived this long,” Phil Doster, of Birmingham Jefferson County Animal Control, told WAVY.com. “It’s kind of tapering off, the amount of animals we’re seeing because of the storm. For an animal just to show up on someone’s porch after this time was pretty remarkable, especially with the condition he’s in.”

The shelter is caring for Mason while his pet parents rebuild and regroup. “For an animal to go through what he’s gone through and not to be ugly, to be happy for any companionship is remarkable. We’re honored to be part of his recovery,” Doster said.

According to MyFoxAL, Mason is scheduled to undergo surgery on his legs today. His vets will “use plates and maybe pins to help realign his bones. Doctors think it will be a long, but ultimately successful recovery.”

A tornado that swept through Fayetteville, N.C., on April 16 swept up a Pit Bull named Prince and German Shepherd named Raider.

Teresa Esparoza, who was petsitting, told WTVD-TV that as the roof of the house started to blow away, she looked out the window and saw a shed blow apart and the dogs “literally fly away.”

Prince was found at an animal shelter a couple days later, while Raider returned to the living room of the damaged house.

Their dog mom, Megan Alfonso, is delighted that her dogs are safe. “I was really upset about the dogs,” she told WTVD-TV. “The house is replaceable, but my dogs aren’t, so I’m thankful we found them.”

PHOTO: wellohorld

Laura Goldman

Laura Goldman is senior social media writer for i Love Dogs, Inc. She does love dogs. And elephants and turtles. Along with writing about the loves of her life, Laura likes to play with her two pound pups and tell anyone who’ll listen just how awesome Pit Bulls are.