'Lost In The Storm': Pets Missing, Reunited After Hurricane Ian

DESOTO COUNTY, FL — Landlocked DeSoto County was fortunate to escape the deadly storm surge from Hurricane Ian that ravaged neighboring counties along the coast. However, the rural county located west of Sarasota County and north of Charlotte County couldn't avoid the storm's fierce winds and pounding rain.

Stay up-to-date by viewing all Hurricane Ian coverage on Patch here.

As Hurricane Ian made landfall Sept. 28 as a Category 4 storm, the National Weather Service said DeSoto County was pummeled by 135 mph winds with 160 mph gusts and 20 inches of rain that resulted in historic flooding.

In the aftermath, roads in DeSoto County were washed out, floodwaters as high as 6 feet inundated homes, mature oak trees toppled over onto roads like a game of pick-up sticks and roofs were torn off mobile homes and sheds.

The storm also caused fencing throughout the county to collapse, prompting the sheriff's office to issue this warning: "Due to fence damage from Hurricane Ian, livestock may be loose and roaming. Please use caution when driving through DeSoto, especially in the rural areas, as it could create a road hazard."

A week after Hurricane Ian made landfall, first responders continued rescuing residents in flooded neighborhoods, collecting storm debris and slicing up downed trees with chainsaws so roads could reopen.

In the midst of this activity, the DeSoto County Sheriff's Office received a call from a resident who was concerned after seeing a dog stranded on the roof of a recreational vehicle in the flooded River Acres community.

It's possible the dog was caught in floodwaters and bumped into the RV, managing to crawl on top of the vehicle to save itself from drowning. Then, when the floodwaters began to recede, the terrified pup had no way to get off the vehicle's roof, deputies at the scene speculated.

DeSoto County PIO Tammy Whitney said the sheriff's office has no way of knowing how long the dog had been clinging to the roof of the RV. It's possible the bewildered canine had been waiting five to seven days for someone to rescue him.

"Thankfully, the DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office was able to mobilize the boat and rescue the dog," she said. "The dog was turned over to DeSoto County Animal Control, where it now has access to water, food and shelter."

Whitney said the sheriff's office hopes the dog's owner will hear of the rescue and claim the dog from animal services.

"If he is not claimed, he will be placed for adoption," she said.

Volunteers with the Southeastern USA Disaster Relief Animal Rescue are working hand in hand with county animal services and rescue shelters to help locate hundreds of dogs and cats and reunite them with their owners.

The nonprofit has also been collecting and reposting heartbreaking notices from hurricane victims appealing to the public to be on the lookout for their dogs or cats lost during Hurricane Ian.

"I am missing my beautiful Norwich terrier Evie. She is an 8-year-old spayed female. She got lost in the storm. Last seen on East Riverside Drive (in Fort Myers)," said Brianne Casey.

Jennifer Colucci made an appeal on behalf of a friend whose home on Fort Myers Beach was swept away by the hurricane.

"This is Stella, a 13-year-old white American shorthair female cat with blue eyes," Colucci said, posting several photos of the cat. "Her home was washed away to sea as her owner held on to her for two days with water up to his neck. While being rescued, Stella got away and has been missing since Friday morning."

"We lost Molly the day after Hurricane Ian," said Ginnny Stuart of Charlotte, posting a photo of her terrier mix. "She can't hear or see. She has a lime floral collar on."

"Some of these stories are hard to bear," said Celene Albano of the Southeast USA Disaster Relief Animal Rescue.

But the nonprofit also sees its share of happy endings, she said, including the rescue of two unusual pets.

On Oct. 4, Lee County sheriff's Deputy Jim Vanpelt along with Lee County Domestic Animal Services rescued two giant Galapagos tortoises found on Fort Myers Beach.

They are believed to have been swept away from their home on Sanibel Island by the 4 to 6 feet of storm surge that struck the island.

Two days after Hurricane Ian wreaked havoc on Fort Myers and its barrier islands, CBS Mornings interviewed Patrick and Rebecca Strader and their two young children, shortly after they had been rescued by a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter after being trapped on Sanibel Island for two days.

The Straders, who recently moved to Sanibel Island and had never experienced the wrath of a Category 4 hurricane, said they decided not to evacuate because they were concerned about leaving behind their tortoises, members of the family for more than 20 years.

The family told CBS the storm surge rushed into their home without warning. While the Straders managed to save their dog, the roughly 200-pound tortoises were swept away by the floodwaters.

The Straders told the reporter there was no way the giant reptiles could have survived the 10-foot waves that crashed onto the island.

On the contrary, said veterinarians at Lee County Domestic Animal Services, the tortoises appeared to be no worse for wear after their close call.

Another happy ending was played out on a live news broadcast.

In an emotionally charged interview with the Sarasota News Network, Susan Kucia, who lives in rural Hidden River on the Myakka River in Sarasota, was unable to stifle her tears as she described how the Hidden River Levee suddenly burst early Saturday morning, sending tons of water gushing onto the ranch where she lives with her daughter, two grandchildren, 12 horses, nine dogs and two cats.

Ironically, the family made it through the hurricane's initial 125 mph winds and rains just fine, said Sharon Kucia, Susan Kucia's sister.

After the storm passed, the ranch had no power or cell phone service, so Susan Lucia sent her daughter and grandchildren to stay with friends, and she remained on the ranch to feed and care for her animals.

"At about 1 o’clock in the morning Saturday, I received a call from my sister who had woken up to 6 feet of water inside of her home," said Sharon Kucia, who's started a GoFundMe campaign to help her sister rebuild her home and stables.

Sharon Kucia said her sister was able to rescue eight of her dogs and one cat, but the horses scattered in fright when the levee broke and the property began to flood.

The Sarasota County Sheriff's Office and neighbors began scouring the area in boats and canoes, managing to round up 11 of the 12 horses. But Bucky, a miniature horse, remained missing.

As Susan Kucia continued her on-camera interview, she caught a movement in her peripheral vision and turned. She lost what was remaining of her tenuous hold on her composure. She broke into uncontrollable sobs of relief upon seeing her neighbor, Jennifer Schlabach, walk up leading Bucky.

Ross Schlabach said there was debris in the water everywhere as he and Jennifer searched the flooded area. Then they happened upon a little shed and heard splashing inside. They looked through a window and "there was a horse sticking its head above the water," he said.

Susan Kucia is now reunited with all of her animals except one dog, a Jack Russell mix named Toby. Anyone who sees him is asked to call Sharon Kucia at 772-577-0970.

"We are all hoping for the best in this situation and appreciate everyone who keeps an eye out for him," Sharon Kucia said.

Unfortunately, said Albano, reuniting owners with pets that managed to survive the hurricane is going to be a long process.

Rescue groups are still trying to match up found pets with their owners more than a year after Hurricane Ida made landfall in Louisiana.

But there's hope, said Lee County Domestic Animal Services Director Pablo Adorno.

"The animal services field department has had boots on the ground doing rescue efforts on Fort Myers Beach and surrounding areas," said Adorno. "They have seen the devastation first hand and today, for a moment, got a glimpse of why they are there."

The owners of a dog named Moo feared the worst when Moo was lost as the hurricane lay waste to their home on Fort Myers Beach. Then they received the call they despaired of ever receiving from an animal service officer telling them that Moo had miraculously survived the storm. The couple rushed to animal services.

"When they arrived at our shelter, they were overcome with emotion upon being reunited," Adorno said. "This resourceful canine is our sign that Fort Myers Beach and Lee County will come back from Hurricane Ian — one day at a time."

Lee County Domestic Animal Services will hold a mobile pet pantry at its 5600 Banner Drive location on Saturday, Oct. 8, from 9 to 11 a.m.

Its "lost and found" department has reopened for residents who are looking for their pets or bringing in a found pet.

"The clinic and adoption center remain closed at this time while our department remains focused on field recovery and reuniting pets with owners," Adorno said.

But the mobile veterinary clinic with its team from the University of Florida veterinary school will be on site. There will also be free pet food available for pet owners.

Call 239-533-0705.