The Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Department tweeted a photo of the scared, black dog, which was found alive in a pile of wreckage after a deadly EF-5 tornado hit Moore on May 20. At first it might have seemed like one more miracle, but once authorities found out why the pup had been sitting in that particular spot, the dog’s story became even more heart-wrenching.
On Tuesday, deputies learned the little dog was actually guarding the body of its owner, who had died as a result of the storm, Oklahoma’s KWTV noted.
STORY BEHIND DOG PICTURE:The dog was guarding it’s deceased owner.Taken to shelter; deputy plans on adopting. twitter.com/OkCountySherif
- Oklahoma Co. Sheriff (@OkCountySheriff) May 21, 2013
In a message posted on Facebook, the OCSD described how the dog was found standing over a deceased individual:
May 20, 2013 we posted this picture of a dog on our Twitter account “scared, but this little pup survived”. Today we found out the story behind the picture. The dog was standing guard over a deceased individual, possibly it’s owner, in Moore following the tornado there. The dog was taken to a shelter and the deputy who found the pup, if possible, plans on adopting the dog. Man’s best friend to the end.
This tragic and touching tale is one of many to arise from the aftermath of Monday’s tornado, which left 24 dead, including nine children.
Media outlets have captured several touching photos of Moore residents being reunited with pets found in the wreckage of their homes. One elderly tornado victim, Barbara Garcia, had her prayers answered when she found her beloved dog, Cathy, while being interviewed on live television. Video of the discovery quickly went viral.