His hero ❤️
Published on Oct 11, 2024 at 5:19 PM
There are countless untold stories of heroism and bravery in the devastating wake of recent hurricanes Helene and Milton — lifesaving actions on behalf of people and pets alike.
But the chorus of gratitude for those working so hard to help might just best be summarized in a single look from one thankful pup.
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Florida’s Hillsborough County was among the hardest hit by Hurricane Milton, leaving large swathes of the region underwater.
Following the storm, crews from Hillsborough County Fire Rescue (HCFR) have been scouring the flooded streets and neighborhoods for anyone left stranded — including pets.
The dog pictured above was rescued by HCFR Captain Dusty Mascaro, who carried him to safety in his arms.
Once out of the water, Mascaro decided to take a selfie with the pup he’d saved, capturing an undeniable look of love and gratitude in the process.
“This dog’s eyes say it all,” HCFR wrote in a post.
This was no singular rescue. In fact, HCFR reports:
“After Hurricane Milton, our teams have rescued 104 pets so far, ensuring that no one — human or animal — is left behind.”
Each sopping wet tail, boarded onto buses and whisked to safety, represents a life that rescuers agree was well worth saving.
“We’re incredibly grateful for the opportunity to serve and protect all members of our community, big and small,” HCFR wrote.
The work of HCFR to rescue people and pets is just a small part of a larger effort to save lives impacted by the recent hurricanes. And though not all these ongoing stories of heroism and bravery will get to be told, they’re appreciated regardless.
To get involved, check out these ways help animals affected by Hurricane Milton.
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“I got goosebumps.”
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Hiker Decides To Help When He Sees A Little Lost Animal Staring At Him
“[T]hat’s when I saw, just off in the distance, a little figure …”
Earlier this week, Jason Hawkins set out on what he thought was going to be a simple hike to an Oregon hot spring. But when he was at the trailhead, two people approached him to ask if he was missing his dog.
Hawkins was not missing any pets and had no idea what dog they were referring to. But as he began the hike, he observed his surroundings more closely than usual, alert to any signs of a lost animal.
Sure enough, about a quarter of a mile into the hike, Hawkins noticed a little dog staring at him from behind a small boulder.
“[T]hat’s when I saw, just off in the distance, a little figure,” Hawkins told The Dodo. “It kind of clicked that that might be the dog they were asking about.”
Hawkins tried to approach the dog, but he was so terrified and disoriented that every time Hawkins came up to him, he ran away.
“[H]e ran off deeper into the woods for a while when I was trying to follow him, and that kind of just freaked me out a little bit,” Hawkins said. “The deeper he got, the more worried I became.”
Eventually, the pup got tired and lay down in a grassy clearing. Hawkins was finally able to get close to him. He saw that the dog had a collar on, which confirmed that he was someone’s lost pet.
Hawkins was determined to reunite the pup with his family, who was probably worried sick about him. But he wasn’t sure how he was going to get the dog back to the trailhead. Hawkins didn’t have any food with him, and the dog was too scared to follow him without encouragement.
After thinking on it for a while, Hawkins came up with a genius solution. He decided to clip his camera’s tripod to the dog’s collar and use it as a makeshift leash. Surprisingly, the dog didn’t mind at all. In fact, the tripod “leash” even seemed to set him at ease.
“As soon as I stood up and he could kind of feel the pull on his collar, he was like … ‘I know what’s happening, we’re good now,’” Hawkins said.
Hawkins led the dog back to the trailhead and attempted to call the number on his collar, but the service in the area was spotty and none of his calls were going through. He managed to text the dog’s owner, and shortly after, she drove up to the trailhead and collapsed in relief upon seeing her dog.
“[S]he could barely talk to me,” Hawkins said. “She was just fighting back tears the whole time.”
Hours earlier, the woman had been driving around with her dog when he’d somehow escaped her car and ran into the woods. She’d been searching all day for him, and thanks to Hawkins, they were finally reunited.
Hawkins feels lucky that he was able to play a role in helping someone find their missing dog. As an animal lover himself, he knows how stressful it is to not know if your pet is OK.
“Being able to ease the mind and see the joy that was on her face afterwards felt really good,” Hawkins said.
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