He just needed some compassion … and dog friends
By Sarah Ashley
Published on Oct 10, 2025 at 1:18 PM
Chella Phillips first came across Anatoli, a Siberian husky, on social media. Her heart ached looking at posts about the scrappy stray, whom neighbors said was living in or around a local high school.
Phillips, president and founder of The Voiceless Dogs of Nassau, Bahamas, showed up to the school the very next day with a trap. She spotted Anatoli in the parking lot under a car, trying to escape the island heat.
“It was so easy trapping him,” Phillips told The Dodo. “I think he knew it was his last and only chance to ever escape that place.”
A teacher informed Phillips that the dog had been living in that area for about two years. Some students yelled at Phillips, mocking Anatoli with names like “Cujo” and “Chupacabra,” comparing him to the legendary creatures because of his mange-ridden coat.
Phillips drove Anatoli directly to the vet, where she learned he had likely suffered head trauma at some point, because his head tilted to one side.
https://volume.thedodo.com/embed/4c01a90db?autoplay=true&loop=true&placement=article&player_type=chorus&tracking=article:lede&privacy_consent=allThe Voiceless Dogs of Nassau, Bahamas
Anatoli, estimated to be about 4 years old, received medication and vaccinations — not to mention a long-overdue bath, which revealed a bright, white coat.
Phillips constantly reassured the frail dog that he was safe, but even after arriving at her shelter, he couldn’t relax.
“We had to take baby steps with him,” she said. “He was so shut down and terrified of human proximity.”
While shelter staff tried desperately to earn Anatoli’s trust, the husky found hope in his fellow dogs. They welcomed him and taught him how to play.
“Anatoli saw them around us and that there was nothing to be scared of,” Phillips said.
Just a few days of dedicated compassion from staff and companionship from the other dogs were all it took to melt his fear. Anatoli opened up and basked in his new life.
He spent several weeks in Phillips’ shelter, practically smiling the whole time.
After some additional tests to make sure the husky was healthy enough to travel, Phillips coordinated his transfer to Second Chance Rescue in New York, where he earned a new title: foster fail.
Five years later, Anatoli is unrecognizable.
His parents lovingly groom his lush, white coat. He lounges on plush beds and explores parks with his dog siblings.
Snow is part of his life now, too, which is great news for a husky from the Bahamas.
“I have rescued dogs all my life,” Phillips said. “It hurt me so much how indifferent people were to his suffering … He meant nothing to them.”
Now Anatoli is everything to his forever family.
If you’d like to support The Voiceless Dogs of Nassau, Bahamas, you can donate via their website.
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Reporter Hears Cries In Building’s Rubble — Then Discovers A Fluffy Survivor
“[S]he’s pretty darn strong …”
By Ashley Ortiz
As a national correspondent, NewsNation reporter Ryan Bass spent weeks documenting Hurricanes Helene and Milton from Florida’s Tampa Bay area. While continuously reporting on the destruction felt mostly heartbreaking, Bass found an unexpected glimmer of hope in the rubble the morning after Hurricane Milton.
It all started when Bass and his photographer pulled up to a torn-apart building on Tampa’s Palmetto Beach just after sunrise on October 10.
“We had been doing some reports that morning just on some of the people affected, and we came across that building,” Bass told The Dodo. “When our van pulled up to get set up for our 6 a.m. live shot, I heard meowing by the debris.”
After two back-to-back hurricanes, Bass was used to the typical post-storm sounds, like generators whirring in the distance and construction vehicles sifting through the destruction. But this was his first time hearing meows after such an event.
“I was a little worried because that building, the entire front of that building, had been torn off from the hurricane,” Bass said. “I was worried when I first heard the meowing that there was an animal stuck under there.”
Bass immediately stopped what he was doing and followed the cries to the destroyed building behind him.
“Naturally, I was curious, and I wanted to make sure if there were any animals, that they were OK,” Bass said. “So I walked over to the debris, and the next thing you know, a little kitty emerges.”
Bass was shocked to see a mocha-colored tortoiseshell cat emerge from the pile of rubble, seemingly unscathed and incredibly friendly.
“[She] just kind of pokes [her] head out, and [she] was super sweet,” Bass said. “[She was] a little skittish at first, but then [she] came up and started purring and kind of rubbing on my legs.”
Amid the post-hurricane chaos, the friendly cat seemed thrilled to make a new friend. He had no idea what she’d experienced during the storm, but her mere survival confirmed her resilience.
“She did survive the storm, so, obviously, she’s pretty darn strong,” Bass said. “I was just grateful that she was full of energy and didn’t seem hurt; that was my main concern.”
Bass gave the cat, whom he nicknamed Milton, tons of pets and praise before continuing his reporting. Milton scurried under the news truck when Bass first went live then reemerged just as he was finishing up.
“At the end of my live shot, I kind of referenced the cat, and when my photographer panned over, you could see her kind of come up and run through,” Bass said. “It was super sweet.”
By the end of Bass’ 6 a.m. report, Milton the cat was already famous. In addition to appearing on the news segment, Bass posted a picture of Milton on his X account, which quickly garnered millions of views.
You can see Bass’ post about Milton the cat here:
While Bass sorted through the multiple adoption inquiries, the family who owned the building and business where Milton was found offered to care for her.
“I spoke with Dana Head, one of the workers in that building, whose family owned it,” Bass said. “As I was speaking to her, the cat came up and started interacting with the family. She was super sweet. So they ended up taking the kitty inside and feeding her and kind of housing her for a bit.”
Head and her family member, Ben Shaw, quickly fell in love with Milton. They knew, as Bass received a few serious adoption inquiries, that they’d likely have to say goodbye to Milton soon. But after spending some time with her, the family decided they couldn’t let Milton go.
“They sent me a text that said, ‘We are already attached to Milton and think we’re gonna keep her,’” Bass said. “‘She’s just so darn sweet.’”
The family and owners of Pilgrim Permocoat, Inc. are still working on rebuilding their home and business after the storm, but thankfully, they have a loyal new cat by their side. In the wake of such heartbreaking damage, Milton the cat has filled an entire community with hope.
“It’s really a heartwarming and happy ending that we were able to find this cat in the rubble of their building, and that they’ve decided they want to keep her,” Bass said. “I’m really glad they got attached to her.”
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“We were both crying! It was the best sight ever.”
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