ohmidog!

A tough little dog named Bentley apparently survived for nearly three weeks buried under a pile of tornado debris in Missouri.

Glenda Erwin, director of the Carthage Humane Society, told the Carthage Press that the spunky Shih Tzu was found in a field in the town of Diamond Saturday.

Diamond is about 15 miles from Joplin, which was devastated by the May 22 tornado.

It’s suspected Bentley landed there and had been under the debris ever since, judging from the nature of his injuries, which include a nasty scrape between his eyes that shelter officials speculate was caused by flying debris, splinters of wood and blades of grass and carpet fibers embedded under his skin.

Erwin said the dog was brought to the shelter by a woman in tears. She dropped the dog off and left before shelter staff could get her name. She told shelter workers she had heard whimpering from the pile of debris a week ago, but couldn’t locate a dog. She returned Saturday, heard the dog crying again, and found it under the wreckage.

Central Pet Care in Carthage provided medical care to Bentley, as he was named by shelter staff. The dog appears to be deaf and possibly blind, but vets weren’t sure if those conditions are a result of the tornado or were previously existing,

Erwin said the shelter will try to find Bentley’s owner. If not, he’ll be put up for adoption in a week or so.

(Photo by John Hacker / Carthage Press)