UPDATE: Hurricane Dog's Wow-Finish

Sunday, May 27, 2001 - USA

SACRAMENTO, CA — Every dog likes a happy ending.

Hurricane Floyd survivor "Sampson" was among the 716 animals who were rescued along the southeast coast when the 1999 catastrophe hit, prompting the largest peacetime evacuation in American history.

For the sake of hundreds of animals who didn't get the early warning bulletin, volunteer groups, such as United Animal Nations and the International Fund for Animal Welfare devoted rescue crews, veterinary assistance and shelter for the animals that could be saved from the floodwaters and other perils of the hurricane.

Floyd just barely touched the coast on September 16, 1999, but even that was enough to turn the southeast shores into a giant bowl of Brunswick stew gone bad.

Search and Rescue teams retrieved stranded dogs by the dozen in Floyd's wake. Photo: Dave Saville/FEMA News

Of the 716 animals rescued and sheltered in North Carolina, many were reclaimed by families, many more found new families, and one dog, Sampson, sat around waiting for 18 months (read "Dog Survives Hurricane, Now What?").

Well, thanks to a change of venue and some rekindled news coverage, it looks like Sampson's found a home.  In the last few weeks, several dozen families in the Sacramento, CA area approached the UAN, expressing interest in adopting the hard-to-place pooch.

The lucky winners are Luellen and Herb from Sacramento, who took Sampson into their home where he seems to be fitting in just fine as of Friday.

It's been a long time coming, but with this last dog, we can call the rescue finally over.  Roll the credits:

United Animal Nations
Emergency Animal Rescue Service (movie)
International Fund for Animal Welfare
Pitt County Humane Society
U.S. Coast Guard 5th District
North Carolina Search and Rescue (photos)
Federal Emergency Mgmt Agency (photos)

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