Dog kept himself from drowning in flood by using dead dog’s body as float

One can only imagine the emotional trauma a dog must have endured trying desperately to save himself from drowning in his flooded home. When found by rescuers, the dog had been using another dead dog’s body as a float – just trying to survive.

While flooding conditions, as a result of Hurricane Florence have continued, so have the efforts of the American Humane Rescue. On Monday, rescuers received a call from a Good Samaritan telling them that sounds of dogs barking had been coming from a flooded, abandoned home. Two boats arrived – three members of the American Humane Rescue and one member of Code 3 Associates were immediately dispatched to help.

“Dogs were paddling inside flooded crates, barking and desperately attempting to reach us. Puppies were standing on their mothers’ backs with only inches left to breathe. Beneath them, there were additional dogs…ones that, unable to escape their crates, had drowned in the floodwaters. We pulled the dogs from their crates and, wading through the flooded home with them in our arms, got them to the safety of our rescue boats. Right now, the future of these dogs is uncertain, but it’s safe to say: they would have drowned without our help.”

According to Kenn Bell, who videoed the entire rescue effort, described the rescue as the most dramatic scene he had ever been involved.

“They walked through darkness and chest deep water following the sound of the barking. They opened an interior door and the horrid smell of feces and urine in the water hit them hard,” Kenn wrote on his social media page.

At that juncture, the first dog was spotted.

“He was keeping himself from drowning by using the body of a dead dog to float on. They yelled out to us that they had a bunch of big pit bulls to bring out. One by one, they carried the scared dogs out to their boats.”

The dogs had spent five agonizing days in flood water trying to keep themselves alive.

“…by floating on couch cushions and on top of dressers. They didn’t eat and probably didn’t sleep much either.”

As the second dog was lifted into the rescuers arms and gently placed on the boat, his bowels released; he was sick and had diarrhea which made it more difficult for the team leader, Josh to get the rest of the dogs and their crates into the safety of the boat.

“I also noticed that all the dogs had their ears cropped, badly. Some still had stitches in. When all was done, we had 6 large pitties and 2 puppies on board. I can report that all are warm and cozy at our shelter, getting lots of love and doing much better.”

Many people have asked what will happen to the dogs and if they will be made available for adoption. Under North Carolina law, stray dogs must be held 14 days and if the owners do not claim them, the dogs will be made available.

“If the story touched you and you want to help, go to your local shelter RIGHT NOW and adopt one of the millions of dogs that weren’t as lucky to be made famous by a post on Facebook. Some have been sitting here for years. Many will die if no one adopts them,” Kenn updated the  news of the rescue on Tuesday afternoon.

Many thanks to the team consisting of Team Leader Josh Cary, Amber Batteiger, Mike Mather and Jerry Means.

(All photos via Kenn Bell and the American Humane.)

And that friends are the angels out here saving the lives of those who cannot speak. To make a donation to the American Humane, please click here.

Read the latest animal news on the National Pet Rescue Facebook page.

Yesterday in the news: Dog found abandoned in basement may have been there since February – the storyhere.

Good news! Judge cancels grizzly bear hunt – more here.

This little dog is a hero!