Dog rescued after spending 5 days 20 feet up tree after Hurricane Helene

Our hearts continue to go out to all the victims of Hurricane Helene, which has devastated the Southeast United States and claimed at least 200 lives.

But as with any disaster, there are the occasional positive story that gives us a glimmer of hope. Recently, a team of rescuers came to the aid of a dog who had miraculously survived the hurricane — and was found in a very unusual spot.

According to a Facebook post from the Kingsport Fire Department, in Washington County, Tennessee, their Technical Rescue Team was working with a K-9 Search Unit from the Murfreesboro Police Department in a search for survivors.

The police K-9 alerted the rescue team after finding something in a tree. To their amazement, they discovered a dog stranded 20 feet up!

May be an image of 1 person and tree — Facebook/Kingsport Fire Department

Miraculously, the dog was alive — 5 days after storms from Hurricane Helene had swept through the area. It seems the dog was swept up in the high floodwaters but managed to get hold of the tree.

“That baby wanted to live so bad, they swam and took refuge wherever possible,” one person wrote in the comments section.

The poor dog must have been terrified, and could only wait for days for someone to finally see her. It’s a miracle the K-9 unit and firefighters arrived when they did.

Kingsport Fire Department personnel got a ladder and climbed up the tree to retrieve the dog. She was reportedly “happy” to finally be saved, and the firefighters fed her.

May be an image of 4 people and text — Facebook/Kingsport Fire Department

She was then turned over to a local animal shelter. In an update this morning, the department said that the dog was going to be reunited with her family today.

The story has gone viral as a rare bit of good news to come out in the aftermath of this devastating hurricane.

“My heart and my thanks to all firemen and first responders tirelessly rescuing animals who somehow survived this deadly hurricane,” one comment on Facebook reads.

“Through the traumatic sight of these past few days; this is definitely the post we needed to see,” another wrote. “Thank you all so much. God Bless each and every one of y’all.”