Tornado Dog Crawls Home On Broken Legs Almost 3 Weeks After Deadly Alabama Storm (VIDEO)

This little guy makes the animals from Homeward Bound look like they achieved nothing.

Almost three weeks after deadly tornadoes ripped through Alabama, this dog finally returned home. With two broken legs.

Mason, as WAVY-TV 10 refers to the dog, was blown away during the storms. He had been hiding in a garage when the storm picked him up and blew him away on April 27th.

Perhaps most astounding was the extent of Mason's injuries.

From ABC7:

"They've not been able to be in alignment so neither one of them have healed, so he had to crawl on two broken legs to get home," said veterinary Dr. Barbara Benhart.

"This is probably the most dramatic we've seen as far as an injury in an animal that's survived this long," said Phil Doster, an animal-shelter worker.

The owners had all but given up on finding the dog when they returned home on Monday, but there he was, sitting on the front porch, according to ABC7. The distance and lengths he traveled to get home remain a mystery.

WATCH:

Comments

[outraged in Alabama]

04:07 PM on 06/08/2011

If I was avoiding a tornado I would have my dogs with me, I just have to ask why was he left behind. My heart goes out to this animal. I hope he has a happy life from now on.

[Monrocsol]

01:52 PM on 05/31/2011

I worry more about animals than of people.

[Sylvia Spielman]

01:50 PM on 05/30/2011

I thought everyone might like to see how Mason is spending his Memorial Day celebration as he recuperates and waits to be reunited with his family. This is from his FaceBook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mason-Thetornadodog/177375968983545

[Janet Barnes Odom]

12:35 PM on 05/30/2011

First, let me say God bless you, Mason. I wish you a full recovery and a long and wonderful life. Thank goodness for his new forever family. However, as just one of many foster "moms" for Homeward Bound, I feel compelled to offer a few comments regarding the comparison of Mason's journey and Homeward Bound. Happily, it may take some time but, hopefully, Mason will be whole again and know that he is loved and cherished. Unfortunately, without organizations like Homeward Bound, thousands of homeless, abused or neglected dogs, puppies, cats and kittens as well as many that were scheduled for euthanasia, would have never have known warm dry beds, full bellies, soft touches and safe, loving homes and familes. HB has brought relief to the unbelievablely suffering, frightening and painful existance of countless innocent animals. Returning home after having been lost and afraid, is a wonderful ending for family and beloved pets. However, being lost, abused , tortured, injured, terrified, starving and or often near death, is quite another. Homeward Bound is simply one additional tier of hope and a haven for so many animals that, otherwise, might have never known love, kindness and freedom from abuse. I'm proud and blessed to be a Homeward Bound foster mom!

[Brenda Wright Baugh]

02:26 AM on 05/31/2011

Janet, I think they are referring to the movie, "Homeward Bound" and not the organization. What you people do is wonderful!

[Anythya Grulnbarkkn]

08:39 AM on 05/30/2011

I am so dissapointed in his owners, this poor dog braved the unknown with full courage while injured to get back to them he proved his love and loyalty and they toss him aside how cruel :'( they didnt deserve Mason's love and dedication to them if they in his hour of need, couldnt care less so sad ....blessings to your dear Mason you are inspiring

[charon]

02:30 AM on 05/30/2011

A similar thing happened to a dog near Chico, CA, in a tornado that hit last week. It was picked up and blown an unknown distance away, the owners thought him dead, but then about 6 hours later that night he showed back up with minor injuries:

"None of the animals on the property was injured, but Consol said it looked at first as if their dog might have died. The dog was usually in a back yard behind a chain link fenced area, but was missing from right after the tornado hit. Console went outside at about 1:30 Thursday morning and found the dog, which had made his way back home. Consol said the dog had abrasions on its chest and was disoriented awhile until it finally realized it had made its way home."

http://www.chicoer.com/ci_18153458?IADID=Search-www.chicoer.com-www.chicoer.com

Not quite the incredible journey of this dog with two broken legs, but still pretty amazing.

I guess dogs' reputation for loyalty and "dogged" tenacity is well-deserved.

[fourtruth]

04:21 PM on 05/29/2011

Just awesome - You go Mason! (typing through tears)

[Cailleach Echo]

01:11 PM on 05/29/2011

What heart that little guy has. Makes you think about people and animals who are wounded but unable to attract attention to get help.

Absolutely agree ... get to an animal shelter and adopt a friend for life.

[Sammie55]

09:14 AM on 05/29/2011

There are an awful lot of "Masons" at your local shelters just looking to love you and be a hero for you...

Go getcha one.

[PUAAN]

04:17 PM on 05/29/2011

Oh, please do! Animal companions add so much to life...

[fourtruth]

04:33 PM on 05/29/2011

If there were affordable vet care for seniors on foreced early retirement I would - lost my two senior Poms last year and could hardly afford to even put them down. When I'm done with forclosure and moved I hope I am in a place to do fostering at least - but I know I won't want to give them up.

[kkmousse]

08:39 AM on 05/30/2011

I hope so too. Sorry for all that you are going through and to not have a pet companion to comfort you. Fostering is a great idea.
I would have a hard time letting them go though!

[ebanks84]

07:32 AM on 05/29/2011

What a wonderfully satisfying story of survival. This dog is a hero in my book and I wish I could take care of him and love him forever.

[realpolitic]

04:31 AM on 05/29/2011

God please that dog!

[Chips548]

12:17 AM on 05/29/2011

Hi - My name is Don ( Canadian ) and I am on the Westcoast of Canada. I just felt so much for the dog that was badly wounded in the Tornado yet struggled amazingly to get back home. So moving. After reading it and getting past the initial emotion of it- first thing that came to mind was --
" Well - that makes sense - He's American".

Best to all Don

[realpolitic]

04:31 AM on 05/29/2011

Thanks!

[ebanks84]

07:33 AM on 05/29/2011

What a nice thing to say, bless you :).

[Wendy AndFamily]

11:41 PM on 05/28/2011

Such a touching story! This little guy will have a happy ending.

[adefaraci]

08:27 PM on 05/28/2011

WELL U R THE MAN OF ALL MEN MR MASON SIR. WE HERE IN AUSTRALIA RAISE OUR GLASSES, HATS AND ALL ELSE TO U AND UR MOST RARE SHOW OF OLD SCHOOL HARDNESS. U REALLY R THE HERO OF UR HARSHEST OF SEASONS MR MASON SIR.
GET WELL AND BLESS UR BATTERED, BRUISED AND BROKEN BITS. AUSTRALIA APPLAUDS U AND UR STORY WILL BE FOREVER AN INSPIRATION. ADE AND BIG MUMMBA FARACI.. MELBOURNE ..AUSTRALIA.
PS - WOULD APPRECIATE SOME UPDATES ON UR WELLBEING MR MASON SIR.
UMMM TAA.

[StephenBP]

07:04 PM on 05/28/2011

To the folks who are upset that the owners didn't keep the dog in their possession....maybe you could get a better idea of what they are going through if you took all your possessions and threw them out the window, making sure that most of them ended up in a dumpster going to some unknown dump. Smash every door and window in your house. Then go live in your car or a motel. Then have a loyal pooch with broken legs following you slavishly while you don't have the money to get him properly fed or cared for or can't give him something to ease his pain.

They gave the dog to loving people at a clinic who have gotten him fixed up properly.

I can't see as that is in any way wrong, can you??

[peacekitten]

09:22 PM on 05/28/2011

consider substituting "child" for "dog" and ask yourself the same questions. mason has feelings, awareness, and is just as traumatized as anyone else from this horrible storm. while mason is getting the care he needs thanks to the generosity of strangers, this story seems to have been presented neither well nor accurately by the news media. i hope everything works out well for all concerned, especially mason. such loyalty is a rare gift not to be taken lightly because it comes in a package with four paws. certain things about this story seem to be becoming more concrete, i.e., he's being cared for, will recuperate properly, and have a home when his ordeal is over, it's just the interstitial areas that are a bit unsettling. i hope there are some followup reports on the well-being of first mason and then his family to find out how they are getting back on their feet and if/when they take him back home.

[StephenBP]

10:16 PM on 05/28/2011

Well, I spent much of this year and part of the previous year caring for a dying incontinent cat whom I couldn't contain and who peed all over my house, so I am not heartless. Each day I spent a big chunk of time strategizing how to let the little creature have the best of life at my expense, and how to minimize the damage it was causing and cleaning up its mess.

I think that we need to have some pity on the humans who just had their lives, communities, and homes destroyed. Those people must be in a terrible state. They are probably in shock. Think how conflicted THEY must feel... they love the dog more than you or I and to find it in such a pitiable state AND have to give it up because they didn't have the monetary or emotional resources to care for it? They aren’t able like you or me now, to sit in a comfy chair in an air conditioned room free to waste time typing to strangers. They don’t have a home to go to and their neighborhood looks like a war zone.

The dog, by comparison, is doing pretty well.