Beloved Dog Who Went Missing During Texas Floods Found Alive
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
A dog that went missing during the devastating floods in Central Texas earlier this month was found alive with help from a trackable GPS collar.
The Context
During the Fourth of July holiday weekend, Texas experienced severe flash floods, particularly along the Medina and Guadalupe Rivers. The flooding left a trail of devastation, with over 100 people reported dead.
What To Know
Erin Doguet was 1,500 miles away in Colorado when she learned that her ranch, which backs up to the Medina River, was flooding and her livestock guardian dog, Ziva, was missing, People reported.
Over 200 animals at the ranch had been left in the care of Doguet's sister, Shannon, and a pet sitter, Taelyn.
"Ziva took off after a predator or possibly also spooked by the big storm, causing her to end up on the back section of the ranch, which is bordered by the Medina River. As she crossed the river, the flood waters rose swiftly, trapping her," Doguet told the outlet.
Doguet had previously fitted Ziva with a Tractive GPS collar. Using the device's app, Doguet helped guide Shannon and Taelyn to Ziva's location. After spending approximately 16 hours in a flooded gully, and with help from an audible sound feature on the collar, Ziva was found and rescued by Shannon and Taelyn.
"The app worked flawlessly in guiding us to her location," Doguet told People.
A photo shows flooding caused by a flash flood at the Guadalupe River in Kerrville, Texas, on July 5, 2025.
A photo shows flooding caused by a flash flood at the Guadalupe River in Kerrville, Texas, on July 5, 2025.
Photo by RONALDO SCHEMIDT/AFP via Getty Images
Doguet said Ziva was physically unharmed but exhausted. The dog drank water and rested for over 12 hours upon returning home.
Across Central Texas, other survival stories have emerged from the devastation. A dog named Superman was found atop debris after being swept away by the floods. Animal organizations, such as Austin Pets Alive!, have taken in hundreds of displaced pets, mobilizing veterinarians, staff, and volunteers to aid in the emergency response.
What People Are Saying
Erin Doguet told People: "I burst into tears knowing they found her alive! When the collar kept reporting her same location for hours on the river, I feared she was dead."
Suzie Chase, a community affairs officer for Austin Pets Alive!, previously told Newsweek: "The Central Texas community has been incredibly generous, dropping off canned pet food, blankets, towels and crates. They have volunteered to help transport animals from Kerr County and help with the search and rescue efforts. We are so grateful!"
What Happens Next
Austin Pets Alive! announced in a Facebook post on Wednesday that its flood response efforts are ongoing.
"You can help us continue to be there for Central Texas pets and their communities through our disaster relief efforts by donating funds or supplies, volunteering, fostering, or adopting," the organization said.
Do you have a story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have any questions about this story? Contact LiveNews@newsweek.com.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Woman Driven 'Mad' by Sister-in-Law's Posts About Dad Who 'Died 10 Years Ago': 'At What Point Is This Just Attention-Seeking?'
"It drives me mad. I've gone so far as to silence her," the woman said A woman is taking issue with her sister-in-law over social media posts she makes about her late father — who died a decade ago. In a post on the U.K.-based forum Mumsnet, the woman said her in-law's dad "died 10 years ago, and yet, it's almost daily, but definitely weekly, she's posting her grief on Facebook." The woman further detailed that her sister-in-law will write about "[how] much she's missing him, how grief is so silent and misunderstood," and it "escalates" on holidays — including Father's Day, Christmas and Easter — as well as "the day he died [and] the day they found out he was ill," plus "her kids birthdays [and] her birthday." "I used to get on with her well, but she's always driven me mad by text and socials," the woman continued. "At what point is this just attention seeking? It drives me mad. I've gone so far as to silence her because I can't bear the 'hope you're okay, hun,' stuff." The Mumsnet user added that her sister-in-law's "behavior has absolutely trashed my opinion of her," and it was exacerbated when she claimed her in-law "even got in competition with a relative of hers raising money for charity, because she had to be the one seen to be doing it and wouldn't collaborate." Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. In the comments section of the post, the woman was met with support from others, many of whom suggested that her sister-in-law needs professional aid to help her cope with the loss. "It sounds like she needs some counselling to help her manage her grief," one Mumsnet user wrote, as another said, "This sounds like an abnormal grief reaction. She really needs therapy, if she has not had this already." The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now! Others, meanwhile, couldn't help but feel that the woman's sister-in-law was taking things a step too far — and possibly continuing to post about her grief solely to get the reactions she has become accustomed to. "There's a huge difference between missing someone on special occasions or memorable dates and actually posting about it ... No need," wrote a commenter. Said one more: "It may be cruel of me, but I have no tolerance at all for performative or over-sentimental public grief." Read the original article on People Solve the daily Crossword
Wall Street Journal
7 hours ago
- Wall Street Journal
The Depopulation Bomb
If humanity's existence were threatened by plague, nuclear war or environmental catastrophe, people would surely demand action. But what if the threat came from our own, passive acceptance of decline? This is not some theoretical curiosity: It is a reasonable extrapolation of globally declining fertility rates.
Newsweek
9 hours ago
- Newsweek
Man Finds Kitten 'Baking' in Walmart Lot Heat—so He Got To Work
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. What began as a trip to the store for cat litter turned into a rescue mission for Norman Benford, 52, from Altoona, Pennsylvania. When heading to Walmart, Benford heard from his partner that there was a kitten trapped underneath a gazebo at the store, and he knew what to do. "I was heading out to Walmart for cat litter to donate to our local shelter," Benford told Newsweek. "My partner mentioned that somebody had posted in a local pet rescue group earlier in the morning about a possibly feral kitten in distress." Equipped with a carrier, gloves, and a broom, Benford arrived to find several Walmart employees attempting to lure the tiny kitten out. She was buried among garbage and unreachable under the structure when Benford used the broom to clear debris. The cat then bolted toward a row of shopping carts and disappeared into the undercarriage of a truck. Pictures of Benford and the kitten he rescued from the Walmart car park. Pictures of Benford and the kitten he rescued from the Walmart car park. NormanB616/Reddit The driver was quick to assist, kicking the floor from inside the truck and opening the hood to expose the kitten's hiding spot. Fifteen minutes later, he had managed to get hold of the kitten. "I forcefully scruffed her and pulled her out from the truck and plopped her into the carrier. I was not going to let her escape again to die of heat exposure or get crushed by a car in the parking lot," Benford said. The kitten was in a sad condition: overheated, wounded, filthy, and covered in fleas and feces. Benford sprung into action and brought her to Tiny Paws NICU—a local rescue specializing in neonatal kittens. "I had never encountered a kitten this small and in this condition in the wild, and I needed guidance," he said, crediting Adele and Janelle from Tiny Paws for their support. In 2024, approximately 7 million animals entered U.S. shelters and rescues, according to Shelter Animals Count—an increase of nearly 3 percent from 2023. Of animals that entered shelters, 60 percent were stray. Five baths and lots of attention later, the kitten has begun to show signs of comfort and trust. "She is sweet and will sit in my lap on the back porch and relax for extended periods of time," Benford said. "She has a tiny little meow but the biggest purr when she is content and happy." Pictures of the kitten who is now settling well into her new home. Pictures of the kitten who is now settling well into her new home. NormanB616/Reddit Benford shared the story of the kitten rescue on Reddit where the post has over 30,000 views. Here he shared: "So, this little girl was literally baking underneath the employee gazebo at my local Walmart." In the comments, people shared their reactions. "Thank you for saving her," said one Redditor. While another wrote: "You're rad humans! May the universe bring you joy for your kindness." Now approximately eight weeks old, the currently unnamed kitten continues to recover in quarantine with Benford, away from his seven other cats. The hope is to adopt her permanently. "We intend to do everything to make it work. We're very much in love with this adorable little life that the universe put in our care," he said. Benford thanked Tiny Paws NICU for their help with the kitten: "They are a self-funded, registered 501(C)3 non-profit doing financially and emotionally draining work... I have the utmost respect for them and the work they do." Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@ with some details about your best friend, and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
