For
Moose, it's that joy can bloom even in the darkest hours.
The??beagle, once lost and grieving
after Hurricane?,
continues to inspire his new??and
those who cared for him following a natural??that
no one could ever imagine.
A beagle named Moose survived the devastation of
Hurricane Helene in North Carolina, after his owners
died.
(Tara Lynn)
The
ferocious storm ripped through his??nestled
in?'s foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains nearly
two months ago, leaving destruction and despair in its wake.
His family – his safe haven – was killed after his??was
swallowed by Helene's rage.
The remnants of a home are seen in Lake Lure,
North Carolina, October 2, 2024, after the passage of
Hurricane Helene.
(ALLISON JOYCE/AFP / Getty Images)
Glimmer
of hope arrives
In
the days following the nightmare, neighbors took turns
caring for Moose, even as they faced their own struggles of
being without water and power. During that time, Moose was
viciously attacked by a pack of wild dogs. His condition was
dire, requiring immediate medical attention.
It
was thanks to one of those caring souls who called??in??to
get the care he desperately needed. The team of volunteers
would soon offer a glimmer of hope for Moose, agreeing to
take him in as soon as a foster home became available.?
Moose lost his home and family during Hurricane
Helene.
(Tara Lynn)
The
devastation in western North Carolina?. She yearned to help but
struggled to find the right way. She and her husband toyed
with the idea of fostering another dog from TriBeagles, but
nothing seemed quite the right fit.
Then,
Moose arrived, and it felt like destiny.
"I
just felt like God said, 'Okay, this is your role, and step
up and love on my little dog," Lynn told FOX Weather.
‘Trust
the journey’
After
being rescued from the mountains and undergoing surgery,
Moose was a shell of his former self. But his eyes, filled
with hope, were fixed on Lynn, his new savior. With her love
and care, he would begin to heal.?
Moose was a shadow of his former self after his
rescue and surgery.
(Tara Lynn)
Moose
was a fighter, a survivor, and his spirit, though wounded,
remained unbroken. As he recovered, his playful side
emerged, bringing joy to those around him.
As
Lynn?, she noticed his tail
beginning to wag again, and his spirit was full of playful
energy. In it, she reminded others that happiness can be a
choice, even when life seems overwhelming.?
"Whether
we’re dealing with trauma or loss, healing is a slow process
that requires patience, but we should trust the journey and
give ourselves grace," she adds.
Moose and Tara Lynn enjoy the sunshine ouside
their home in Cary, North Carolina.
(Tara Lynn)
Reunited
with the mountains
Now,
a new chapter unfolds for Moose as he continues to heal from
his physical and emotional scars. A family in?,
near?,
immediately recognized the urgency of Moose's long-term
needs and opened their home to him back in the mountains.
It
was already a safe place for two other beagles from
TriBeagles, and despite the potential challenges of adding
another to their family, they knew Moose was a part of their
community and needed to be brought home.
Moose found his new forever family outside of
Asheville.
(Triangle Beagle Rescue of NC)
Lynn
said her four weeks with Moose were a celebration of second
chances, a symbol of hope for many in western North Carolina
still recovering from Helene.
"When
life turns upside down, it’s okay to ask for help, and it’s
okay to lean on the kindness of others," she said. "Don’t
face hardships alone; the warmth of friends or even
strangers can be the lifeline we need."
Today,
Moose finds a second chance at life with joy in the little
things – napping in the sun, snuggling in a cozy bed and
exploring the smells of his new world. Thanks to Lynn and
his new owners, he has also found??and
peace again.
"In
a fast-paced world, we often forget to pause," Lynn said,"
and simply appreciate the peaceful moments and simple
pleasures life has to offer."