Family Credits ‘Hero’ Dog Who Was Killed In Tornado With Saving Them From Storm

A Tennessee man whose house was destroyed by an tornado is crediting his loyal pooch for helping his family of five escape unscathed.

Darrin Crockett was furious when the family dog, Doc, would not stop barking the night of Monday, March 2 at the family’s home in Cookeville.

“It was really making me angry because I wanted to sleep,” he told the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board.

“I went out several times to check, and there was nothing outside, nothing going on, but he kept barking, and I remember praying to the lord, ‘I know that you’re sovereign over all things, and so could you please make our dog quit barking, make him shut up?’”

The dog still didn’t stop barking — however his noises were a lucky break for Crockett. Because he was awake he could hear a storm alert on his phone and get his family to safety.

“I think the lord had other reasons for the dog barking, because I was able to hear our phone buzz when the severe thunderstorm warning came through. It is amazing. If our dog had not alerted us, who knows where we would have ended up?” he said.

After they had found shelter the house started shaking.

“The house starts shaking, and it was on us, and the next thing you know, it was gone and we are underneath the house,” he said.

Crockett said that as his family made their escape, they could hear Doc “moaning and whimpering” but were unable to find him.

They later learned that he died in the storm.

“He will go down as a hero. We will celebrate him and talk about him for a long time.” Crockett said.