JASPER COUNTY, Miss. (WDAM) – A week ago, the Stringer community was hit by a deadly EF-2 tornado that killed a person and damaged more than 20 homes.
But even staring into the face of death and destruction, community members have managed to find a silver lining in a furry friend: Dash.
The April 6 tornado claimed the life of Dash’s owner, Carolyn Sue Welborn, and neighbors said, when the weather settled, Dash was nowhere to be found.
” I knew that Ms. Carolyn had a little dog, and I asked Krista, our neighbor, ‘Where is the dog?’” Stringer resident Didi Eldridge said, “She said, ‘Oh, my. I haven’t even thought about it.’
“We went to the debris, and he come running out, (and) immediately went underneath the car.”
After canvassing the neighborhood with no luck, Darby Akerman, the woman who gave Dash to Welborn, made a desperate Facebook post.
Didi Eldridge responded soon after saying ‘Call me.’
“They took me to a car, and it was damaged pretty bad,” Akerman said, “My granddaughter and I, Taylor, got out and started calling, ‘Dash!’ And he stuck his nose out from under the vehicle.”
Akerman, heartbroken by the loss of her former church member, said she feels blessed to be able to look after Dash again.
“She went home to be with Jesus,” Akerman said. “There’s no doubt, there’s no question,” she said, “She was a beautiful soul. She’s going to be loved and missed dearly. We have her baby, and I have a feeling she knows that he’s going to be safe.”
The tornado and Dash’s miraculous recovery has taught everyone a painful but powerful lesson, Akerman said.
“In these situations, just coming together as a community and being able to help or just do anything that we possibly can for someone who can’t just brings joy to my heart,” Akerman said.
Because her family has other pets, Akerman said they’re not able to keep Dash.
If interested in adopting him, reach out to Darby Akerman on Facebook, here.
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