Dog carrying bag of food after Hurricane Harvey becomes viral hero

[Duppers]

August 26, 2017

Hurricane Harvey couldn't keep Otis the dog down.


Saturday afternoon after returning home from adventuring around Sinton, Tx, with his bag of food in his mouth.

Otis, a German shepherd mix, got loose Friday night from a screened-in back porch in Sinton, Texas, while in the care of Salvador Segovia, 65. Segovia was watching the dog, who belongs to his 5-year-old grandson Carter who had fled the city due to flooding.

When Segovia went to check in on the dog Friday night, he was gone.

"I kept yelling his name and yelling his name and he wasn't around," Segovia told Chron.com Saturday afternoon.

Segovia checked his porch Saturday morning and noticed Otis' bag of dog food was missing. Segovia drove around his neighborhood looking for the pooch when he was flagged down by a neighbor who said they saw Otis walking around with the bag of food in his mouth.

Fellow neighbor Tiele Dockens also saw Otis and snapped a photo of him with his food that went viral. The image had been shared nearly 16,000 times by 4:50 pm on Saturday.

Segovia was able to track down Otis and bring him home before his grandson returned.

Otis is an all around special dog, Segovia said. He's been instrumental in helping comfort Carter following numerous hospital visits for seizures and asthma. Otis is also a local celebrity.

http://www.chron.com/news/houston-weather/hurricaneharvey/amp/hurricane-harvey-otis-dog-texas-food-mouth-viral-11990775.php

[joeybee12]

1. Why was this dog outside during a hurricane? Nt

[secondwind]

2. That was my first thought! n/t

[DesertRat]

3. The answer is in the post

[targetpractice]

10. Exactly... More than 250K pets were killed and stranded due to Katrina...

Per Alex Witt on MSNBC just now... There is no excuse for leaving a dog/cat outside during a storm. It's cruelty plain and simple. A screened-in porch IS outside during a storm.

[MrModerate]

4. If the dog was black, they would have called it a looter. n/t

[Timmygoat]

5. Just wondering

Have there been any sightings of the Texas Governor, I have not seen or heard of him during this crisis.

[Lonestarblue]

6. Yes.

He had a press conference yesterday, and he and Senator Cornyn were filmed at a center providing meals to those who evacuated from the storm. Most politicians here have jumped in to help. I haven't seen Cruz on TV, but he may be in Houston.

[targetpractice]

7. It's 2017... I can't imagine keeping dogs outside.

I know that's how it was done when I was a kid, but we've learned so much about dogs since then. Why do this? If you don't want a companion, then don't get a dog.

[DesertRat]

8. He wasn't kept outside. It's in the OP

Otis, a German shepherd mix, got loose Friday night from a screened-in back porch in Sinton, Texas, while in the care of Salvador Segovia, 65. Segovia was watching the dog, who belongs to his 5-year-old grandson Carter who had fled the city due to flooding.

When Segovia went to check in on the dog Friday night, he was gone.

"I kept yelling his name and yelling his name and he wasn't around," Segovia told Chron.com Saturday afternoon.

Segovia checked his porch Saturday morning and noticed Otis' bag of dog food was missing. Segovia drove around his neighborhood looking for the pooch when he was flagged down by a neighbor who said they saw Otis walking around with the bag of food in his mouth.

[targetpractice]

9. Thanks, I did read the OP...

This is just my opinion... A screened-in porch is outside, separate from the dog's family and companions. A storm is a terrifying event for many dogs... The owners should have kept the dog close to them.

[DesertRat]

15. I agree, but this dog's family was evacuated

He was being cared for in an dire emergency. At least the dog had shelter.

The owners should have kept the dog close to them

We can't judge the owners who were trying to evacuate their family.

[targetpractice]

16. Yes, you are correct DesertRat...

I'm sorry, and realize hindsight is 20/20... I feel so bad for everyone in Harvey's path.

[Duppers]

13. Thanks, DR.

I responded below before reading your post.

[Duppers]

12. Well...

Great point but he wasn't exactly outside. (He would've been in the house with me.) Did you read the article?

1. According to the article, Otis wasn't this man's dog and obviously the grandson wasn't able to take him with him.
2. The screened-in porch that this smart kid escaped from was at least some shelter. If his food was dry, so Otis must've kept dry.

[targetpractice]

14. Yes, again, I read the article.

Dogs go nuts in thunder storms.... It's not surprising Otis escaped... probably to escape the terror of being alone in a screened-in porch.

I know there are extenuating circumstances about the grandson and whatnot, but I simply can't understand why folks are defending that it's okay to keep any dog outside in a storm. Hopefully, Otis will be rescued and placed with a more responsible family.

[Judi Lynn]

17. Hope Otis will be watched more carefully, somehow. He's a bright, intelligent fella.

All domestic animals need the concern and care from their human friends.

It IS amazing that he could keep his head during that storm, and take the path to where he has gotten snacks, a pat on the head from the owners of the lumber yard, and brought back his food.