Illinois tornado survivor finds dog buried alive

Nov. 20 (UPI) -- After the deadly tornado that struck Washington, Ill., on Sunday destroyed his family’s home, Jon Byler Dann figured his dog Maggie was probably lost as well.

Thankfully, he was wrong.

Byler Dann survived the storm by bringing his four children -- all of whom are under the age of 10 -- into his home’s basement and riding out the storm.

Before the tornado hit, Byler Dann, 37, tried to convince Maggie to come down into the safety of the basement, but she refused to leave her kennel.

When the storm passed, taking his home of five years with it, Byler Dann began looking through the rubble for his beloved pooch. 30 hours later, 11-year-old Maggie barked faintly and was discovered buried in the debris, wrapped in a piece of carpet.

She was shivering, filthy and in pain -- but alive.

Maggie was brought to a local veterinarian's office and treated for broken bones and possible internal injuries. She is expected to recover.

“I felt intense relief and elation but also just panic," Byler Dann said. "I'm very thankful and blessed to have my wife and my children. And finding my dog today was just unreal."

[Weather Underground]