Trapped in a Washer, a Blue Heeler Miraculously Endures Floodwaters and Finds His Family Again
When floodwaters from the Guadalupe River ripped through Hunt, Texas in the dead of night, the Vlasek family woke to a nightmare. Eighteen‑year‑old Cody Vlasek and his parents scrambled as water rose inside their home, climbing to waist level within minutes. In the chaos and darkness, they managed to flee to higher ground—but their beloved blue heeler vanished in the rush. As the river swallowed homes across Kerr County, they feared they’d never see him again.
Days later, when the water finally receded, Cody returned to the wreckage. Their house—built 30 feet beyond the 100‑year floodplain—was unrecognizable: walls torn open, furniture scattered, debris everywhere. Picking through what remained, Cody climbed through a broken window. Just as he was about to give up, a faint scratching and a soft whimper caught his attention.
Shining his flashlight toward the laundry room, Cody froze in disbelief. Inside a washing machine, half‑filled with murky floodwater, was their missing dog—alive. Soaked and trembling, the blue heeler had taken refuge inside the washer, which sealed just enough to trap air and act as an accidental life raft through the disaster.
“I saw him just floating in the washer,” Cody said, still stunned by the sight.
This miraculous survival is just one of many emerging from flood‑ravaged Kerr County. Animal rescue teams, including Austin Pets Alive! and Kerrville Pets Alive!, raced into devastated neighborhoods, setting traps and scouring debris fields to reunite pets with their families.
In Ingram, volunteer Sherry Sweeney captured a soot‑covered tabby named Rambo, reuniting him with his tearful owners.
“I can’t help with anything else, but I can help with their pets,” she told NPR.
At Kerrville Pets Alive’s emergency clinic, veterinarian Dr. Mallory Cade and her team cared for countless rescued animals. Shelter co‑founder Karen Guerriero described these reunions as moments of pure healing—for both the pets and the families who, after losing so much, got back a piece of what they love most.
Watch the full story in the video below—and don’t forget to SHARE this incredible rescue with friends and family!