More than week has passed since Hurricane Gustov has come and gone here in central Louisiana. My previous post on this blog told the tale of a dog pictured on the cover of the Lafayette, LA daily The Advertiser. The dog stood amid the splinters of a hurricane ravaged block, standing in water, chained to something outside th photo frame.
The cover photo prompted reader concern and inquiries the day after the tornado, concern that drove a series of follow-up stories in the publication. In my efforts, I exchanged several emails with the photographer of the original front page photo. It took nearly a week for the newspaper to wrap up the story, although it was never clear what happened to the dog.
Two days following the tornado, still without news of the dog's fate, I drove out to the Mamou, LA site where the dog was pictured. The devastation was far more shocking than photos could depict. It turned my stomach. On the other hand, I was relieved to see the dog was no longer on site.
The irony of the situation is the dog survived a hurricane and tornado, helpless and chained outside, while tragically, the two owners inside of the home were killed. The dog was apparently, although not confirmed, rescued from rubble by family members the day after the tragedy.
Still, I'd like to know exactly what happed to this dog, but I am consoled to know it was not left on site, and the know that enough people inquired about the dog to still a series of follow-ups. Finally, Lafayette Animal Aid also visited the site to help locals and displaced animals in the vicinity.
If you're a dog lover, there are so many contradictions and ironies in this story. How could people leave a dog chained up outside in a storm? Yet, had the dog been inside the home, it too may have perished! The newspaper followed up a story due to reader concern, yet failed to take the investigation to an end in which we could feel relieved the dog found a new and safe residence.
Certainly there are more important things in the world to worry about. Yet, these are matters of the heart, and no matter how insignificant they seem, the conscience still stirs.
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