‘Tornado litter’: 6 survivor puppies need a new home

Amber Krycka
·3 min read

PORTAGE, Mich. (WOOD) — When a Portage family lost their home after this week’s tornado, they had to say goodbye to their six puppies. But a local animal rescue group is stepping in to make sure they get new homes.

“This one is Tornado, we have Rainey, Hail, Twister, Stormey and Siren,” said Liz Limback, office manager at Animal Rescue Project.

She said the names seem fitting as the “Tornado litter” of six puppies, at eight weeks old, survived a tornado.

Six puppies were left homeless after the Portage tornado, so they were handed over to the Animal Rescue Project to be adopted out. (May 9, 2024)
Six puppies were left homeless after the Portage tornado, so they were handed over to the Animal Rescue Project to be adopted out. (May 9, 2024)
Six puppies were left homeless after the Portage tornado, so they were handed over to the Animal Rescue Project to be adopted out. (May 9, 2024)
Six puppies were left homeless after the Portage tornado, so they were handed over to the Animal Rescue Project to be adopted out. (May 9, 2024)
Six puppies were left homeless after the Portage tornado, so they were handed over to the Animal Rescue Project to be adopted out. (May 9, 2024)
Six puppies were left homeless after the Portage tornado, so they were handed over to the Animal Rescue Project to be adopted out. (May 9, 2024)
Six puppies were left homeless after the Portage tornado, so they were handed over to the Animal Rescue Project to be adopted out. (May 9, 2024)
Six puppies were left homeless after the Portage tornado, so they were handed over to the Animal Rescue Project to be adopted out. (May 9, 2024)
Six puppies were left homeless after the Portage tornado, so they were handed over to the Animal Rescue Project to be adopted out. (May 9, 2024)
Six puppies were left homeless after the Portage tornado, so they were handed over to the Animal Rescue Project to be adopted out. (May 9, 2024)
Six puppies were left homeless after the Portage tornado, so they were handed over to the Animal Rescue Project to be adopted out. (May 9, 2024)
Six puppies were left homeless after the Portage tornado, so they were handed over to the Animal Rescue Project to be adopted out. (May 9, 2024)

“We gave them all tornado names because if you don’t have a sense of humor, how do you get through things?” she said.

Doorbell video shows tornado leveling large trees in front of Portage home

But it was no laughing matter as a tree fell on top of their home, forcing the family to go to a hotel. Sadly, the puppies couldn’t go.

“(The owner) was pretty emotional. She was having a hard time letting go, and she felt pretty guilty” Limback said.

Just one hour before we arrived, the puppies were dropped off by the pups’ owner at Animal Rescue Project in Kalamazoo. Workers believe the puppies are a Labrador terrier mix.

“We’re really fortunate that we were able to help her not have to worry about these guys,” Limback said.

This wasn’t the only call for help.

“Today we got a huge amount of people that were calling to see if we found their animals,” Limback said.

Limback and her team spent part of the day on Wednesday searching for lost animals, including at a mobile home community that was ransacked by a tornado.

“When we were at Pavillion Estates, we noticed that there was a lot of people searching still for their animals,” Limback said.

How we can make mobile homes safer during tornadoes

Lamback was able to bring good news to a woman who lost her cats after her home was destroyed.

“I secured all six cats, brought them to her at the church, so they are with her now,” she said.

As for the pups, things are looking bright again as they wait for their new home. The puppies should be available for adoption in a couple of weeks.

Limback said many of these families impacted by the tornado need help feeding their animals.

For more information, visit the Animal Rescue Project website or call 269.492.1010

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