After a powerful tornado tore through St. Louis, Missouri, earlier this month, most residents scrambled for shelter. But one helpless soul had been left outside, chained and alone, as the storm toppled trees and tore through the neighborhood.
When the skies cleared, nearby neighbors heard faint cries coming from a tangled pile of storm debris. Investigating the sound, they discovered a terrified dog buried beneath fallen branches. They immediately called Stray Rescue of St. Louis (SRSL) for help.
What rescuers found when they arrived was shocking.
“Behind 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 pup, later named Love Is The Answer — or LITA — poked her head through the wreckage as the rescue team approached.
Too scared to move and unable to run, LITA had been left tied to an immovable object with a padlocked chain, helpless as the tornado swept through.
“She’s been back there, so scared and all alone since Friday!” SRSL shared.
Miraculously, LITA had survived the storm. The rescue team believes she was saved by a stroke of luck: the trees fell onto old, abandoned cars instead of crushing her beneath their weight.
Rescuers gently offered her treats and comfort, slowly gaining her trust. Once she realized she was safe, they carefully freed her from the debris.
Despite her ordeal, LITA was physically unharmed and gratefully accepted love and affection from her rescuers — along with a well-earned new beginning.
Just a few weeks after her rescue, LITA met the man who would change her life for good. Their connection was instant, and by the end of the day, he had signed her adoption papers and taken her home.
LITA may be a tornado survivor, but she’s no longer defined by her past. With a devoted new dad and a safe forever home, she’s finally free to enjoy the life she always deserved.
To support dogs like LITA, consider donating to Stray Rescue of St. Louis here.
