A North Carolina community came together to help rescue a dog who was swept away by rushing floodwaters, leading to a joyful reunion after more than a day of searching.
Near Cane Creek in Fletcher, North Carolina, Sam Haney and Kristen Honeycutt had been walking with Sam’s dog Monchu and Honeycutt’s three dogs — Ava, Vada, and Diesel — when they followed a wooded path toward a favorite swimming spot. After the dogs ran into the water, Honeycutt realized the conditions were far more dangerous than usual, following heavy rainfall. When Ava was swept by the current, Honeycutt immediately jumped in after her.
The fast-moving water quickly carried Honeycutt and several of the dogs downstream. With Haney scrambling through thick brush along the bank to reach them, the pair eventually managed to get Honeycutt and her three dogs to safety. But amid the chaos, Monchu disappeared. Haney later said it appeared the dog may have re-entered the water while they were trying to climb out of the creek.
Haney and Honeycutt immediately began searching for Monchu before calling 911 when they were unable to locate him.
What followed was a community-wide effort that gained rapid momentum online. Thousands followed the search on social media, while volunteers joined in and drone technology was used to help scan difficult terrain.
More than 24 hours later, thanks to a local drone operator, Monchu was spotted — alive, in a small cove roughly 100 feet from where he’d been lost. The dog was safely rescued, ending a harrowing ordeal that had drawn widespread attention and relief across the region.
The reunion brought relief to Haney, Honeycutt, and the many who had refused to give up hope that Monchu would make it home.
LFT thanks all those in the community who were involved in saving this sweet dog.
For another heartwarming dog rescue story, read about the pup who was missing for over a week and found in a 40-foot sinkhole.
