Joe Garcia is a resident of Spring, Texas; for the past several days, his community and surrounding areas have been ravaged by Hurricane Harvey. He waited patiently for a rescue boat to arrive to save him from his flooded home.
As he waded through the chest-high water, he pushed a tub of his belongings to the safety of the rescue vessel. He immediately turned around to grab one more thing — his dog Heidi.
Joe lovingly carried Heidi, making sure her head stayed above the floodwater. The beautiful moment was captured by a photographer with The Associated Press.
Mr. Garcia wasn’t the only person in southern Texas who refused to leave their pets behind. Thousands of people have been left without homes, many of them have furry loved ones that are just as important as any other member of the family.
A woman named Belinda Penn wouldn’t let her two dogs, Winston and Baxter, leave her side. A Shih Tzu and a terrier, the two dogs, are Belinda’s two best friends. She woke up one morning, and there was water filling the entire first floor of her home.
Belinda and her husband grabbed their two dogs and ran up to the second floor to wait for a rescue boat. The dogs were terrified, but they were safe.
When the boats finally arrived, Belinda, her husband, and their two pups were whisked to safety, with just garbage bags to carry all of their belongings.
“Every situation is different, but for us, it was not an option to leave our pets behind,” Ms. Penn said. “They are my best friends.”
Lots of pet owners tragically lost their beloved pets because of Hurricane Harvey, but thankfully — many were rescued. A few incredible moments were captured on camera.
Take a look at some breathtaking photos of people doing anything that can to keep their pets from being a casualty of the storm.
Elizabeth Patterson
- Edit
True pet owners!!!!
Renee Gafnea
- Edit
Thank God!
Lynda Brown
- Edit
They are so brave
Monica Zelinski
- Edit
Lesson learned from Katrina, the house pets are allowed in the shelters. Still many fur babies were displaced and never reunited with their owners. Microchipped animals have a good chance of being reunited with their people.
Susan Cotton
- Edit
My pets are part of my family’s lives. How could you not make every attempt to save them. Bless these pups and their owners and all the lost and abandoned animals.
Jeanette Woodrow
- Edit
this is what true owners do, not just tie them up and hope for the best, i would do anything and everything to save mine x
Annie Frayne
- Edit
Good ownership!
Anne Day
- Edit
Well done that man they are part of your family.
Maryann Mariano
- Edit
good owner..good dog..bless you guys