Man reunites with missing dog 10 days after tornadoes destroy his home

TYLERTOWN, Miss. (WDAM/Gray News) – A man who lost his home in the storms that swept through Mississippi in March came out of the ordeal with at least one silver lining: his dog that had been missing for 10 days was found.

Curtis Bush was overwhelmed with emotions after laying his eyes on his dog, Linus.

Bush said he had not seen his dog since tornadoes destroyed his home more than than 10 days before on March 15.

One of the family’s dogs died that same day, and several members of the family were injured in the storm.

“My son’s in a wheelchair,” Bush said. “He’s got a lot of broken bones. My wife’s really sore with broken ribs and sternum.”

When the tornado passed over, the family said Linus was nowhere to be found.

Two days later, the family called the Mississippi Animal Project.

The rescue based in Tylertown immediately began a foot search to find the family’s missing dog.

“It gets to the point where you face the reality that you’re probably not going to find him,” Bush said.

Nothing came up until Tuesday afternoon, when a neighbor spotted the dog a mile away.

The animal rescue then called in drone operator Jason Miller.

“I just happened to see a signature walking on the side of the road, and as soon as I zoomed in on him, you can see in the footage, I started yelling and going nuts,” Miller said.

Miller said in most cases, pets are usually found close to their homes.

Linus was eventually found in a nearby wooded area after seven hours of searching.

“If Linus was alive, there was no house to be found,” Bush said. “It would be like you waking up on Mars, confused because your house is no longer there.”

Bush said Linus had some minor injuries after they brought him home.

The family is now living in a camper that was gifted to them.

“All God is doing is drawing us closer to him,” Bush said. “We will rebuild. This won’t take us out.”

Miller called the experience “humbling.”

“That moment was one of my top moments to be blessed and witness that firsthand,” he said.

Bush said he and his family had only been living in Tylertown for a year.

Both Bush’s wife and son are now out of the hospital and recovering.

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