For his family, Boy is more than just a pet. It was more painful than simply losing their dog when Hurricane Harvey took the Bonillas’ beloved brown-and-white pit bull terrier away. “He belonged to my daughter,” explains Zoey Bonilla. “Boy is all that’s left of her after her tragic death in February.”
When Hurricane Harvey hit, Zoey, her granddaughters, and Boy were still getting used to life without Rose, Zoey’s daughter, their home, vehicle, and everything else they owned were gone. Although they could replace the tangible items they lost, the hurricane’s separation from Boy caused them more distress than anything else. However, there is also hope in their tale.
Boy is safe in Houston with the volunteers and employees of Best Friends who are providing for him, and Zoey and the children are safe in Dallas today. The family will get together again as soon as Zoey finds a new place to live. Zoey’s entire concern since things broke apart has been making sure they can reunite.
When a storm makes landfall
When Boy joined the Bonilla family two years ago, he was still a puppy. He was essentially Rose’s dog, living with all of them but always at her side, guarding and adoring her without conditions.
In February of last year, Rose passed away suddenly, leaving the children and Boy in Zoey’s Vidor, Texas, apartment. When Hurricane Harvey made landfall, they were still getting used to living without Rose. For a family who had already endured much too much in a year, there was the moment when things got even worse.
Days passed, according to Zoey. Despite the apartment complex’s history of flooding and the homeowners’ assurances that everything would be well, they were not. Zoey shifted her car to a higher spot when the parking lot began to fill with water. Neighbors came together to attempt to halt the water when it started to approach the structure.
Since we lacked sandbags, Zoey explains, “we did everything we could to stop the water.” “I told the kids to go upstairs with the neighbors when it got up to our ankles.”
Towels were stuffed into garbage bags, which were then sealed and pushed through entrances. Water quickly began to leak into their ground-floor apartment and continued to do so.
Zoey, who was staying in the flat with Boy, hurried to unplug everything and store valuables away from the water. Boy was terrified of the water, so she took a seat on the couch to console him. However, the water never ceased. Sewage from the toilet and tub was being forced up via the clogged drains.
“It was awful,” remarks Zoey. “I told Boy we had to leave when the water began to approach the electrical outlets.” After she persuaded him to follow her, he leaped from the sofa and tumbled belly-flopped into the wet living room. The family sought safety upstairs with the neighbor, where they observed the rising water through the window.
The following day, they learned that Vidor was predicted to get an additional four to five feet of water and that surrounding rivers and streams were overflowing. The water level throughout the apartment complex was already waist deep. Zoey replies, “I had to get the kids out of there.”
Boy is abandoned.
Before long, a boat arrived to save them, since people had already begun doing boat rescues. Boy, though, had other plans. “He simply refused to board the boat,” sobs Zoey. “We made every effort to bring him in with us.” Boy, though, was scared. Refusing to wear his collar, he resisted being picked up. While the children and Zoey were sobbing, a friend and neighbor reassured them that Boy would be okay. Therefore, Zoey consented at that horrendous time of strain, when rescuers were anxious to transport more people to safety before the water rose much higher.
Her phone rang later that evening. It was the neighbor who informed her that he had to go as well, but that he had opened the windows to keep Boy from getting too hot and had left food and drink out for a few days. It was too much to take knowing Boy was alone and afraid in a flooded building, so Zoey set to work.
Saving the Boy
She made touch with her cousin, who had connections to rescues operating in inundated areas. Though it took some time for a rescuer to reach Boy, he was unharmed. Boy was woken four days after everyone he knew vanished, to the sound of his savior kicking in the door.
According to Zoey, “he went with the guy and didn’t put up any fuss at all, so he must have been ready to go.” “The boy leaped straight into his truck’s front seat, which had air conditioning.” Boy’s rescuer was so taken aback by him that he expressed his desire to adopt him in the event that Zoey was unable to take him back. However, Zoey informed him, “I must have my dog.” He belonged to my daughter.
Boy goes from the flood with other pets.
Boy was sent to a rescue center established by Best Friends in Conroe, Texas, which was over two hours away. Zoey and her grandchildren, along with hundreds of other individuals, were moved to a Dallas shelter that did not accept dogs in the meantime. But they soon found out that Boy was going to be alright and was safe with Best Friends.
Boy and other dogs and cats from the emergency shelter in Conroe and surrounding regions were among the more than 500 who arrived when Best Friends set up shop at the Pet Reunion Pavilion at NRG Arena in Houston. Staff and volunteers at the pavilion, which is a collaboration between Harris County Public Health and Best Friends Animal Society, look after dogs and cats and try their utmost to get them back to their homes.
Boy awaits reunion
Boy has a large kennel, his own toys, and even a fan club at the Pet Reunion Pavilion. Volunteers have spent hours hugging and calming him, even though he was afraid when he first came.
He is no longer as afraid now that he is acclimated to the schedule, understands he will always have wholesome food and walks, and trusts that everyone he encounters will work to keep him happy and healthy. When someone comes to feed, stroll, or sit with him, he wags his tail.
They have chosen to stay in Dallas, so Zoey is attempting to find them all a new place to live since their house and everything in it were destroyed. “It’s been just an awful year,” remarks Zoey. We’re prepared to begin anew.
They will be prepared for the day they have been waiting for since they had to leave Boy behind the moment they get their new house. Zoey exclaims, “We are so happy to have him back with us.” “Words cannot express how grateful I am for all that you are doing for Boy and us.”
Boy and the children have always been protected because to Zoey. “This entire process has been awful. However, we will overcome it,” she declares.
A glimmer of hope has emerged for the family when it appeared all hope was lostâknowing that Boy is doing well and eager to be reunited with him.