This is an amazing story of survival and the wonderful, healing bonds we have with our dogs.
Alesha Franks survived a harrowing experience thanks to a little dog named Zeppy. During a flash flood, her vehicle became submerged in the water and she could not get out. She and Zeppy were trapped!
This story is published on Reshareworthy.com with permission from DogHeirs.com.
Alesha originally shared her story with DogHeirs.com, and recounts how she survived her ordeal. She also explains how she dealt with the trauma and nightmares that came afterwards with the help of another little dog named Miley.
“It’s taken me a very long time just to talk about what I went through,” said Alesha. “I still get a little shaky when telling it…but now by telling it, actually helps.”
“I am Alesha and the beautiful girl kayaking with me is Miley. We live in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. To start – I was in an accident that had to do with a major flood a couple summers ago. I was trapped inside my truck for hours with 5 inches of air and fighting hypothermia. At 4 in the morning.”
Alesha Franks with Miley
“I was up in Minot, North Dakota during the big flood. I was 9 hours away from home. It took the search and rescue team so long to find me because only a few inches of my dark green truck was out of the water and it was pitch black out. I had a friend’s dog with me!”
Miley (left) with Zeppy (right), the dog who helped save Alesha’s life.
“The search and rescue people had told me that it was the warmth from that dog’s body that kept me from going into full hypothermia and prevented me from letting go of the breaks that I had to keep pressure on or else the truck would’ve been swept away with the current. (In the process of the water coming inside my vehicle, it was spinning around, so I hit the breaks to see if that would do anything and it did. It helped by causing my rear tire to catch on to something, thereby keeping my truck in one place JUST as long as I had my foot on the break.) The dog was able to keep my chest warm enough to which I could keep my body from slipping. Slipping off the breakpad.”
Miley surveys the waters ahead.
“Being how dark it was, I could HEAR the boat’s motor from under the water but they couldn’t see me. So, knowing that the dog (Zeppy is his name, mini dachshund) had been crying along with me… I thought maybe I’d try grabbing him by his harness and, as horrible as it is, I dunked him in under the water and up out through the window (he was not harmed) hoping Zeppy would still keep crying and he did. He cried loud enough for the rescue team to hear him and find me. I did not know what was going on and if this plan was working… until I felt him leave my hand and heard voices.”
“The moment they pulled me out from the truck window, it floated away!”
“After seeking trauma therapy, I was diagnosed with PTSD. I was terrified of water, even rain. So my doc suggested I try kayaking! So I went out and got my very first kayak. At the same time, Miley, also had a fear of water.”
Alesha and Miley take a moment to relax.
“After our first summer of kayaking (Last summer) Miley and I BOTH became unafraid of the water.”
Miley overcame her fear of water and now loves kayaking.
“Now, Miley loves kayaking MORE than her own chew toys at home! Miley and I have paddled over 400 river miles this year. She has no fear left and she absolutely loves it!”
“My first kayak was a small beginners kayak and it had no place just for her to sit, she wanted her own seat, so I went out and got a bigger and faster kayak with a spot for her to have her very own seat!”
“Miley is a 4-year-old long-hair miniature dachshund. I’ve had her since she was only 11 weeks old. She’s inspired numerous people to start bringing their dogs along on the kayak!”
Alesha and Miley meet some friends on the water.
“These people have never even considered this before and, now I’m hearing from a few friends that they’re building their own kayak especially made for their pets! It makes me extremely happy to hear that!”
Alesha with her pack, Merlin, Miley and Zeppy.
As for Zeppy, he ended up staying with Alesha due to circumstances around the time of her accident. Alesha said, “Zeppy’s owners were actually in the process of finding him a new home, so instead, I asked if I could take him…being he saved my life, literally.”
Miley (left) and Zeppy (right) are ready for a paddle.
Alesha now kayaks nearly every weekend, saying “it’s a great stress reliever”. She also brings along Zeppy and Merlin, her rescue dog she saved from a life or death situation at the shelter where she found him.
Miley (left) and Riley (right).
This article was published on Reshareworthy.com with permission from DogHeirs.com.
I’m so happy Alesha was able to put her terrible ordeal behind her! Please share Alesha’s story with your friends!
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