Althouse: "Woman Finds Dog Lost During Tornado While Being Interviewed."

May 21, 2013

"Woman Finds Dog Lost During Tornado While Being Interviewed."

63 comments:

bagoh20 said...: That's cool... for both of them.; 5/21/13, 4:24 PM
Methadras said...: Awww, what a sweetie pie. Bless them both. The whole thing is awful. I will never live in the midwest. Ever. And that is the reason why.; 5/21/13, 4:27 PM
X said...: "thank you God"; 5/21/13, 4:30 PM
SteveR said...: Even though you know what's going to happen it still gets you. That's reality TV; 5/21/13, 4:36 PM
test said...: If I were missing a loved one I'd be repulsed by this fawning over a dog.; 5/21/13, 4:36 PM
Sorun said...: "thank you God"

God is great and God is good. Except when he's not.; 5/21/13, 4:41 PM
Methadras said...: Marshal said...

If I were missing a loved one I'd be repulsed by this fawning over a dog.

It's a small light in a bleak outlook. It could have been much worse. The fact that those 7 children drowned in a basement is a horror I cannot imagine. The fact that the rest of them lived is a miracle unto itself. It isn't fawning for me but rather a celebration of life. That this dog was literally found fairly safe and sound in front of the house, under all of that rubble, while his owner was there was sheer luck that the camera crew saw him. It's small comfort for this woman, while some will not be comforted. You get it where you can in face of this adversity.; 5/21/13, 4:42 PM
Methadras said...: Sorun said...

"thank you God"

God is great and God is good. Except when he's not.

And when he's not, you know it. This notion that God is somehow void of emotion seems infantile. The word gives many example of his joy and anger.; 5/21/13, 4:43 PM
Cody Jarrett said...: Marshal said...

If I were missing a loved one I'd be repulsed by this fawning over a dog."

Dog is a loved one. What's the big deal? A woman's happy. Why be a douche about it?

I mean hell--even Methadras had a warm moment. :); 5/21/13, 4:44 PM
edutcher said...: No, there's no God.

Marshal said...

If I were missing a loved one I'd be repulsed by this fawning over a dog.

You think the dog isn't a loved one? It's probably the only real family that woman has.; 5/21/13, 4:52 PM
Roger J. said...: That is a touching moment in an event of great tragedy--blessing on the lady and her dog--; 5/21/13, 4:56 PM
Seeing Red said...: So when will The One descend bearing money?

Do we think that Okies will get up and running faster than the Sandy survivors? Some there still don't have electricity.; 5/21/13, 5:00 PM
Anonymous said...: Not much to say about that. Thoughts and prayers to that woman, all the victims and their families.

And for what it's worth in the wake of such a tragedy, our storm prediction has gotten a lot better.

Seconds count. Minutes count. Effective coordination of rescue and recovery afterwards counts.; 5/21/13, 5:00 PM
test said...: CEO-MMP said...

Dog is a loved one. What's the big deal? A woman's happy.

It's not about her, it's about the public acting as if finding a dog is a big deal while you're frantically searching the rubble for your wife and child.; 5/21/13, 5:00 PM
Cody Jarrett said...: Yeah but people like dogs. I don't have children so I can't pretend to know how I'd feel if I couldn't find my kid, but I do know how I'd feel if I couldn't find my dog.; 5/21/13, 5:04 PM
George M. Spencer said...: Obama needs to invite her and that pup to the White House.

'bout the only way that fella can get some good press.

Get himself on the cover of People.; 5/21/13, 5:08 PM
Dust Bunny Queen said...: It's not about her, it's about the public acting as if finding a dog is a big deal while you're frantically searching the rubble for your wife and child.

It is a big deal. The dog is loved and as said, probably the only family this woman has.

If I were missing and searching for my family, I wouldn't begrudge someone else the joy of finding their own in these horrible circumstances. It isn't an either or situation. Her joy wouldn't diminish anything of mine or add to my pain. I would be happy for her while still horribly sad for myself.; 5/21/13, 5:09 PM
madAsHell said...: I'm gonna piss on everyone's parade.

I thought it was a manufactured moment. The woman wasn't very upset, and the dog appeared to be found through the lens by the cameraman.

Of course, Rosenthal photographed the second larger flag raising on Suribachi.

So, it probably really happened....but not when the camera was rolling.; 5/21/13, 5:10 PM
bagoh20 said...: Marshal is right. Shoot that damned dog, just to send a message about our priorities, and do it right in front of that woman for daring to take up precious local news lady time. Hell, shoot the old lady too if nobody loves her.; 5/21/13, 5:12 PM
edutcher said...: Marshal said...

Dog is a loved one. What's the big deal? A woman's happy.

It's not about her, it's about the public acting as if finding a dog is a big deal while you're frantically searching the rubble for your wife and child.

And, if they did dig some guy's family out of the rubble alive while nobody else's was, that wouldn't be a big deal, either?; 5/21/13, 5:17 PM
kcom said...: It isn't an either or situation.

So true.; 5/21/13, 5:28 PM
Emil Blatz said...: Methadras said...

I will never live in the Midwest. Ever. And that is the reason why.

Well, I lived through a couple of them in Wisconsin, including one that went over my parents house, and they are ... frightening.

I live in south Florida where the issue is hurricanes, and the good news is we haven't had any of significance in 6 years. But the law of averages will pay back with a vengeance soon, I'm sure. There is perennial debate among Floridians and mid-westerners who have become Floridians. Life long Floridians resent the huge insurance cost for hurricane coverage. They always point to the damage done by tornadoes and suggest that Floridians are being penalized by comparison. Of course they are blinded to the density of property value here and the much broader impact of a hurricane. Most tornadoes rip up farm fields, barns and maybe a few homes. A typical hurricane coming dead on to South Florida has the potential of tens of billions in damage.

That said, there is a lot of hurricane mitigation done down here in light of the insurance costs, and it amazes me that there isn't better provision in Kansas, Oklahoma, etc. in the building codes (especially when it comes to schools.) Those facilities should have shelter areas within them that are rated for 250mph wind loads. It can be done within reasonable cost.; 5/21/13, 5:31 PM
eddie willers said...: Looks like Toto.; 5/21/13, 5:31 PM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: What a nice moment... even if it was re-staged.; 5/21/13, 5:50 PM
Chip Ahoy said...: I'm all verklempt inside.; 5/21/13, 5:52 PM
TML said...: I just love that the IDIOT reporter was at a loss for words/questions when the hardy, flyover country, Red State woman told her she understood exactly what had happened. The condescension and emotion baiting is disgusting. How does she feel about all this? WTF, are you stupid? The press blows.; 5/21/13, 5:55 PM
Methadras said...: Emil Blatz said...

Methadras said...

I will never live in the Midwest. Ever. And that is the reason why.

Well, I lived through a couple of them in Wisconsin, including one that went over my parents house, and they are ... frightening.

I live in south Florida where the issue is hurricanes, and the good news is we haven't had any of significance in 6 years. But the law of averages will pay back with a vengeance soon, I'm sure. There is perennial debate among Floridians and mid-westerners who have become Floridians. Life long Floridians resent the huge insurance cost for hurricane coverage. They always point to the damage done by tornadoes and suggest that Floridians are being penalized by comparison. Of course they are blinded to the density of property value here and the much broader impact of a hurricane. Most tornadoes rip up farm fields, barns and maybe a few homes. A typical hurricane coming dead on to South Florida has the potential of tens of billions in damage.

That said, there is a lot of hurricane mitigation done down here in light of the insurance costs, and it amazes me that there isn't better provision in Kansas, Oklahoma, etc. in the building codes (especially when it comes to schools.) Those facilities should have shelter areas within them that are rated for 250mph wind loads. It can be done within reasonable cost.

I'm actually a little dismayed that the building codes in the plain states are the way they are. Every new home built there should be reinforced concrete with steel beam construction. Everything else is fascia on the inside and outside. 2x4's can go on the inside as false walls for plumping and electrical distribution and you wouldn't need to use so much of it. Steel is cheaper than wood I think, it's one of the most plentiful substances on the planet and can be recycled infinitely. Even if an F5 tornado that hit Oklahoma comes down right on top of you, chances are you may loss some fascia, but you won't lose the structure. Even if a crack develops in the concrete, you could remove that wall and put in another. Overall, I think they would be cheaper to build as well and would drive down insurance costs.

Frankly I don't even see the need to build wood framed homes anymore to be honest.; 5/21/13, 5:56 PM
Chip S. said...: What a nice moment... even if it was re-staged.

I think it was genuine. If had been staged, the lady would've been a lot more demonstrative. And they'd have had the on-screen reporter "find" the dog, not a voice from offscreen.; 5/21/13, 5:57 PM
Methadras said...: madAsHell said...

I'm gonna piss on everyone's parade.

I thought it was a manufactured moment. The woman wasn't very upset, and the dog appeared to be found through the lens by the cameraman.

Of course, Rosenthal photographed the second larger flag raising on Suribachi.

So, it probably really happened....but not when the camera was rolling.

Lem said...

What a nice moment... even if it was re-staged.

I don't understand. Are you guys saying the interview was staged and the dog was put there on purpose to be 'found' in the rubble? It didn't look it to me.; 5/21/13, 5:58 PM
Craig Howard said...: it's about the public acting as if finding a dog is a big deal while you're frantically searching the rubble for your wife and child

I suspect they weren't watching TV. I'm happy for that woman. Your position is defenseless.; 5/21/13, 6:01 PM
Titus said...: I don't think of Oklahoma as the midwest.

More Southwest.; 5/21/13, 6:13 PM
jeff said...: You have wood frame houses because its cheaper. And the fact is you can live your entire life in the Midwest without ever seeing a tornado, much less be in one. Its like not wanting to live on Chicago because it once burned down.; 5/21/13, 6:14 PM
Original Mike said...: "Every new home built there should be reinforced concrete with steel beam construction."

Do realize how small tornado footprints are? I would have expected you to object to heavy-handed, uneconomic regulation.; 5/21/13, 6:31 PM
Original Mike said...: Chris Matthews is on the tube blaming global warming.; 5/21/13, 6:34 PM
Roger Zimmerman said...: No way was this staged. The clue is the woman deflecting the idiotic reporter's "Can you comprehend this ..." question. I love that woman's completely reality based response: "I know exactly what happened to me.". She's a hard-headed, grounded (pun intended) woman, who appreciates her luck, even if she calls that luck "god".

And, I noticed the Toto resemblance, as well.; 5/21/13, 6:35 PM
Amartel said...: Awww.; 5/21/13, 6:42 PM
madAsHell said...: I don't understand. Are you guys saying the interview was staged and the dog was put there on purpose to be 'found' in the rubble? It didn't look it to me.

Yes!

I think that woman should have been completely distraught, and searching for her dog. But no, she's taking a walk around the premises, and chatting with reporters.

.....and I think she would have exploded into tears of joy when the dog was found.; 5/21/13, 6:45 PM
Original Mike said...: I think the dog looked pretty dazed.; 5/21/13, 6:46 PM
Original Mike said...: Maybe they pumped him up with doggie downers.; 5/21/13, 6:47 PM
Dust Bunny Queen said...: I think that woman should have been completely distraught, and searching for her dog. But no, she's taking a walk around the premises, and chatting with reporters.

.....and I think she would have exploded into tears of joy when the dog was found.

You must be an east or west coast urban elite and don't understand the stoicism of us bitter clingers. Her house was destroyed, her neighborhood was destroyed, people that she knows are most likely dead or close to it. She accepts the reality that her dog is probably dead too. Crushed under the rubble or sucked up into the storm. This is the likely reality. She accepts it and isn't having a futile drama queen moment.

She was ecstatic. You just didn't hear it. Her breathless...."oh...oh...oh...bless your itty bitty heart".....that was it. Joy as it is done in the midwest. In addition....I doubt this was her first rodeo...or tornado either. One of the worst, but not the first. That she wasn't dead was a big deal to her. Her dog not being dead...icing on the cake.

The stupid reporter kept trying to get the woman to break down, cry, have a dramatic moment for the camera. I admire the woman for deflecting the stupid questions.; 5/21/13, 6:55 PM
Deb said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 5/21/13, 6:56 PM
Deb said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 5/21/13, 7:01 PM
Methadras said...: Original Mike said...

Chris Matthews is on the tube blaming global warming.

The only global warming Chris Matthews understands is the heat generated from his own drunken sanctimonious bloviating. This fool doesn't understand even the basics of warm gulf air moving north while cooler northern air from the rockiest moving south coming to meet the warmer air down on the plains, driving the warmer air higher, while they both create their own wind sheer and become super cells, hence counter-rotation fluidic flow action. Fucking idiot.; 5/21/13, 7:03 PM
Methadras said...: madAsHell said...

I don't understand. Are you guys saying the interview was staged and the dog was put there on purpose to be 'found' in the rubble? It didn't look it to me.

Yes!

I think that woman should have been completely distraught, and searching for her dog. But no, she's taking a walk around the premises, and chatting with reporters.

.....and I think she would have exploded into tears of joy when the dog was found.

What DBQ said. I think you are projecting how you would or someone should react to a situation like this. I couldn't even fathom or comprehend either to be honest. This seems like a petty and meaningless thing to fake considering the utter devastation these people are witnessing. I think the woman was counting her blessings that she got to see another day. The fact that her dog popped up looking dazed and confused sealed the deal that her life was good. She looks like a woman that has seen hardship and knows how to handle it. No maudlin displays of emotion for her I imagine. Stern stuff it looks like.; 5/21/13, 7:09 PM
Republican said...: On behalf of those who live in the Midwest, let me thank those of you who don't, for avoiding us.

Asses.; 5/21/13, 7:14 PM
Teri said...: Thank you DBQ. Just what I wanted to say.

And MAH, if it had been re-staged do you really think the interviewer would have deliberately allowed herself to look like a fluff-headed news bunny?; 5/21/13, 8:02 PM
Big Mike said...: The discussion here makes me wonder whether anyone else besides me has noticed how "global warming" has replaced "the will of God"? Back in the day when a tragedy like this hit it was the will of God. Today it's Global Warming.

Not that any reputable scientist will say that there's a link between climate and tornadoes. But that doesn't stop Senator (I worked so hard for that title) Boxer.

You Californians owe the rest of us Big Time for Feinstein and Boxer.; 5/21/13, 8:03 PM
madAsHell said...: You must be an east or west coast urban elite and don't understand the stoicism of us bitter clingers.

Ouch!! That strikes close to home!!

OK....I think we are agreed. The news camera likes the crying woman footage.

What are the odds of the camera rolling, and the dog being found??

I will admit, I couldn't believe the woman cooperating with the news teams, but money talks!!; 5/21/13, 8:04 PM
madAsHell said...: deliberately allowed herself to look like a fluff-headed news bunny?

Is there any other kind of news bunny??; 5/21/13, 8:07 PM
Titus said...: None of these Okies get any federal money or assistance though.

They voted for teabaggers that were against increasing the debt.

And billions of dollars in relief for these baggers will increase the debt.

They are on their own and should look to God, Oral Roberts and the free market for any type of assistance.

But nothing from the federal government.; 5/21/13, 8:48 PM
Scott M said...: Had this debate with my mother earlier today when she posted it. I said "Hate to be cynical, but that looks awfully staged".

Maybe there is a different version of the video, but the video I saw has the woman being interviewed about her "game plan", then there's an edit, then there's them finding the dog.

My question is...if it were genuine, wouldn't the dog be making a lot of whining/whimpering noises the very second it's owner's voice was heard, or that it could smell her nearby? There didn't appear to be any noise before the edit.

I think it's a case of "here's $500 grandma, help me stage this event. If you do it, the politicians will see it and send more relief money (plus it might get me a media award and out of this po-dunkian hellhole)."; 5/21/13, 8:58 PM
Methadras said...: Titus said...

None of these Okies get any federal money or assistance though.

They voted for teabaggers that were against increasing the debt.

And billions of dollars in relief for these baggers will increase the debt.

They are on their own and should look to God, Oral Roberts and the free market for any type of assistance.

But nothing from the federal government.

Can you just go be gay over there somewhere in the corner or something. These people will do just fine without government. Go take a clench free poo and let us know how it went. kthxtits.; 5/21/13, 9:14 PM
glam1931 said...: Here's the unedited version someone shot live off the air. There is no cut. The interviewer is trying to goad her into a heartwrenching soundbite, and the old lady just snaps "That's life in the big city", which I found hilarious. I am inclined to think that the dog came crawling through the rubble simply because it heard the old lady's voice for such a sustained length of time.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=c-pp2ODjrbM; 5/21/13, 9:15 PM
NotWhoIUsedtoBe said...: I'll ask the Sherlock Holmes question.

Why didn't the dog bark?; 5/21/13, 9:20 PM
Leland said...: The woman wasn't very upset

She just survived a EF4 (now EF5) tornado, at her age. Hence her answer to the daft question, "can you comprehend [this]?" She's not about to fall about and portray drama. She's happy the dog is alive, but she's more happy she's alive. Now she needs to find shelter, and that's likely the most important thing on her mind.; 5/21/13, 9:21 PM
NotWhoIUsedtoBe said...: And that's how my mother-in-law reacts to everything. She's stoic. There are people like that.

It used to be that people prided themselves on restraint instead of emoting in public.; 5/21/13, 9:22 PM
William said...: I don't mean to be judgmental of small dogs, but couldn't the animal have wagged his tail a little or shown a little more joy at the moment of reunion. That dog was no Toto. He didn't deliver the moment.; 5/21/13, 9:30 PM
Petunia said...: FFS, people. Maybe the dog was in shock. Maybe he was unconscious until just before he was found. Maybe he was so terrified he couldn't make a noise. Maybe he was trying so hard to wriggle out of the wreckage he didn't think to make noise.

As for being "repulsed" over "fawning" over a dog. Guess you don't have much of a heart. Feeling happy for someone who found her beloved pet does NOT mean you don't feel anguish for those still looking for their loved ones...people AND animals.

As for her not being "upset". Again, FFS, people. I volunteer with elderly hospice patients. People from that generation DON'T always feel the need to emote or play it up for the audience. They just get on with it. If she broke down in tears, she probably did it later, and not for the benefit of the camera and idiots in the audience who feel the need to criticize her for her reaction to the loss of her home and almost the loss of her dog.; 5/21/13, 9:37 PM
President-Mom-Jeans said...: Marshal, you are a tremendous douche, I hope you get cancer and die.

Titus, you are a gay douche, I hope you get super aids and die.

A touching video, a nice old woman, and a bimbo newscaster.

That about sums it up.; 5/21/13, 10:49 PM
Ruth Anne Adams said...: The woman was lucid and composed. I should only hope to be that self-possessed on such an occasion. That's a standard worth emulating, not deriding.; 5/22/13, 9:03 AM
ken in tx said...: Tuscaloosa AL, has still not recovered from the tornado they had several years ago. According to Forbes, it is because the local authorities have thrown up every barrier and roadblock they could to prevent people from rebuilding. Tuscaloosa is a university town infected by Democrats.; 5/22/13, 11:50 AM
Steve Koch said...: Miniature Schnauzers are great dogs.; 5/22/13, 7:26 PM
come_reap said...: As a dog owner and animal lover, I'm surprised at the comments suggesting that this was staged. There is no way a woman whose only companion was this dog (as evidenced by just the two of them taking shelter) would consent to bury her dog in rubble, for any price. Especially if he had just been rescued from that situation. It would be like staging a POW rescue by first putting the soldier back in a cell.
No way. Absolutely no way, imo.; 5/24/13, 9:17 AM