One brave Kentucky teenager made headlines this month by risking her own safety to save her dog. The heroic duo’s story is a brilliant tale of selflessness and bravery. Their dedication to one another proves that nothing, not even a flood, is strong enough to break the bond we share with our fur babies.
Chloe Adams, the hero of today’s story, is just seventeen years old. But despite her age, Adams clearly understands the true meaning of selfless love. When a series of sudden flash-floods struck Adams’ town of Whitesburg, Kentucky, she proved that love by saving her beloved dog, Sandy, from the rising water.
A Terrifying Flood
Adams was home with her grandfather when the flash-flooding began. As the water continued to rise, destroying the family home, Adams became separated from her grandfather. Adams looked at Sandy and knew she wouldn’t survive alone. The waters were quickly rising to ceiling-level, and a current developed. There was no chance that little Sandy could survive such a storm.
So Adams did what any of us would: she devised a plan to save Sandy’s life.
“I put Sandy in the water momentarily to see if she could swim. But she couldn’t,” said Adams. “So I scooped her up and went back inside, wading through the waist deep water to try to locate something that could float to put her on.”
Adams placed Sandy in a plastic container, knowing the material would float atop the rising water. She then swam nearly seventy yards against the current with Sandy in tow. The pair searched frantically for a safe space to escape the rising water.
“There was water as far as I could see. I had a full-blown panic attack,” said Adams.
A Daring Rescue
Adams spotted a nearby roof that the flood had not yet enveloped and swam towards it vigorously. She tucked Sandy under her arms and climbed atop the roof, hoping they had found a safe place to rest. Fortunately, the rising water slowed, and the duo could breathe easily for a moment.
The pair waited on the rooftop for several hours, hoping that someone would come to their rescue. Adams sat atop the roof shingles while Sandy waited patiently in her tote. Adams even took a video amidst the chaos to capture the precariousness of their situation.
Finally, after hours of waiting, Adams’ grandfather came to their rescue in a kayak. The trio then paddled through the floodwaters until they reached dry land. Adams, her grandfather, and precious Sandy were safe from the flood.
A Local Teenage Hero
In a Facebook post, Adams’ father shared the sweet story, calling his brave daughter a hero:
“She saved her dog by putting her in a container that would float and then swam with her to a neighboring rooftop,” said Terry Adams Sr. “She waited hours until she could be rescued. She is a hero.”
One thing we know for sure is that the Adams family has their priorities straight. They understand that the safety of their family is way more important than any material thing that was lost:
“We lost everything today,” said Terry. “Everything except what matters most.”
Toledo, United States.
