When a series of tornadoes ripped through St. Louis, Missouri, earlier this month, most residents ran inside to shelter from the devastation. But one soul was left to fend for herself outside while trees crashed around her.
Shortly after the storm cleared, neighbors heard cries coming from a pile of downed trees and soon discovered a sweet but terrified pup in the rubble. They called Stray Rescue of St. Louis (SRSL) for help, and a team of rescuers rushed to the scene.
When the rescuers arrived, they were shocked by what they found.
“[B]ehind an abandoned house, a dog was chained up with padlocks around her neck and trapped beneath fallen trees,” SRSL wrote on Facebook. “She’s crying for help.”
You can watch that moment here:
The dog, later named Love Is The Answer (LITA), poked her head above the brush when she heard the rescuers approaching. She was terrified, but she couldn’t run even if she wanted to. Sadly, LITA’s previous owner tethered her to an immovable object, secured with a padlocked chain around her neck.
“She’s been back there, so scared and all alone since Friday!” SRSL wrote.
It seemed like a miracle that LITA survived the storm, especially since she couldn’t escape from the falling trees. But the rescuers quickly realized what kept her alive.
“The fallen trees landed on old cars, and we believe that’s what saved her life,” SRSL wrote.
The rescuers tossed LITA a handful of enticing treats and soon won her trust enough to dig her out from the pile of trees. Thankfully, she seemed physically unharmed by the whole ordeal and didn’t require much medical intervention beyond the removal of her padlock and a thousand hugs and kisses a day.
A few weeks after her rescue, LITA received an adoption inquiry from a man who seemed like her perfect match. When he stopped by to meet her, the two hit it off instantly. The man soon signed her adoption papers, and the pair of best friends went home later that night to spend the rest of their lives together.
As a tornado survivor, LITA’s past is laced with traumatic memories. But now that she has a forever home with a dad who truly loves her, the sweet girl can finally put her past to rest and enjoy the life she’s always deserved.
