In the wake of a natural disaster, survival mode and instincts kick in. There is no amount of preparation that can get anyone ready for what’s to come. Whether it’s a volcanic eruption, earthquake or a flood, emergency escape plans are suddenly dusted off and brought down from the shelf to be put to use.
With these kinds of emergencies, it’s a split second decision that can save you or hold you back. As a result, in a moment of panic, many pets get left behind. Maybe the owners didn’t have room in the car. Maybe the pet got spooked out and ran away and there was no time to find them. The possibilities are endless.
Many people are devastated that they couldn’t take their beloved dogs and cats with them, but in such a state of emergency, it’s a tricky situation and it’s a hard call to make. Furthermore, some animals just don’t comply. They can sense the urgency and easily get disoriented, as seen in this video, where a woman dressed in pink is wading her way through the water trying to catch up to the dog just ahead of her.
The pup, a Rottweiler, seems to be in a trance. He’s doggy paddling against the current, stressed out and trying to find higher ground, unaware that there’s a human behind him trying to offer a helping hand. Julie Wilson was nearby, a news reporter from WTVD North Carolina, USA, who was streaming a live Facebook video when she saw the distressed pup from the corner of her eye. She breaks her report to move closer to the floating dog, quickly clueing into what was happening.
Julie reaches for the dog before having to become more assertive and grab the neck collar to stop the pup from frantically paddling. In a situation like this, even the sweetest and mild-mannered dogs become freaked out and aggressive. They lose their sense of safety resulting in a nervous, more fearful version of themselves. And, this was a 100-lb dog. Not a little guy by any means!
Julie scoops the big pup under its arms to get a better hold of him and brings him out of harm’s way. The woman in pink is still nearby as everyone walks over to shallower water. “You are OK, baby girl,” she told the dog. “Nobody is leaving the dog in this mess. That’s what we are doing out here.”
Click below to watch this video caught on camera.
