Dystopia has arrived. A great whirlwind swept your whole world into a funnel in the sky, then sent the pieces crashing down onto what was once your home. Pinned beneath an air conditioner, you are unable to forage for food. The only thing that’s kept you alive for the past month is a puddle of rainwater at your feet.
This was the scenario faced by “Miracle,” a puppy who survived on Great Abaco, the hardest-hit of the Bahamian Islands by Hurricane Dorian. Miracle was plucked from the rubble last Monday by rescuers using a heat-seeking drone in an attempt to locate survivors. His injuries were not serious, though he’d lost so much weight the arcs of his ribs stuck out through his chest. He was reportedly so weak, he could not even bark to alert nearby rescuers.
Dedicated to saving animals in need, Big Dog Ranch Rescue was on the front lines in the Bahamas and discovered Miracle. Lauree Simmons, who leads the group, was especially touched by Miracle’s will in the face of overwhelming odds:
“Seeing this poor little darling dog just trapped underneath there and thinking how hard he fought to stay alive . . .”
Now nestled in his temporary home, Miracle has been happily lapping up the food and water he has so sorely missed. He’s gained back four pounds this past weekend alone. Despite severe muscular atrophy, Miracle stood on wobbly legs for the first time since he was rescued. He will undergo at least a month of physical therapy to regain muscle tone and stamina before he’s ready for adoption.
Miracle may not yet be ready to go home with a loving family today, but there are dozens of dogs saved in Dorian’s aftermath who are out of quarantine and ready for adoption through Big Dog Ranch Rescue and other groups.
Miracle’s rescue sheds a ray of hope in a devastated region where recovery efforts are just beginning. Scores of people and animals remain missing. The death toll is believed to be well into the hundreds.
It is not known whether Miracle was a stray or belonged to a family with an unclear fate. My heart aches for his past and for the people who may have once known him. Only a few of us will ever meet Miracle, but his story unites us with that part of ourselves that can weather any storm.