A K9 lends a helping paw to another furry friend in need in East Tennessee after it got stranded atop a 20-foot tree due to the flooding brought about by Hurricane Helene.
On Wednesday, October 02, the Kingsport Fire Department reported that their Technical Rescue Team was working with a K9 Search Unit from the Murfreesboro Police Department to locate flood casualties when K9 Kari led the team to a tree.
The Murfreesboro Police Department wrote, “A glimmer of hope amidst the flooding devastation from Hurricane Helene in East Tennessee, a dog stranded atop a 20-foot tree is safely rescued thanks to Murfreesboro Police Department’s K9 Kari.”
The Police Department reveals that during the search, K9 Kari, a five-year-old Bloodhound, began barking uncontrollably and led the team to a tree. There they found a dog perched high in the branches, sitting on a pile of debris.
Thankfully, the KFD firefighters found a ladder that was washed away by flood waters nearby and used it to rescue the dog.
“After retrieving the dog, who was happily removed from the tree, rescuers were able to feed her,” KFD reveals.
On the other hand, K9 Kari’s handler, Officer Angela Alexander, said that she is proud of Kari for doing a job well done.
“The funny thing about Kari is she is not fond of other dogs but this time it was different,” Officer Angela Alexander said. “I’m so proud of her helping to find something good in all the devastation caused by the flooding.”
The Miami Herald reports that the dog has been on top of the tree five days after the devastating flood brought about by the storm.
“It appears the dog was pushed along by flood waters as the Nolichucky River overflowed early Friday, Sept. 27, and she eventually caught hold of a nest of debris in a treetop,” they explained.
Shortly after being rescued, the dog, whose name is Athena, was finally reunited with her family, WCYB reports.
To say Athena was delighted to see her family again and be reunited with them was an understatement. The pooch was wagging her tail and licking her owner’s face nonstop during the reunion.
The Faulkner family, Athena’s owners, said that despite everything they lost during Hurricane Helene, they’re thankful that they have each other and now, Athena, back safely.