12/20/2025
Michael Harris, a 57-year-old man in Jackson, Mississippi, stayed behind when the Pearl River rose and the neighborhood emptied. Water filled the streets, yet he chose to remain in an abandoned garage where dozens of dogs had been left without help.
Through waist-high water, he tied leashes to his belt and guided the animals one group at a time to higher ground. Long hours passed as he moved back and forth between flooded porches and dark rooms, following the sound of frightened barks.
For three days, he shared what little food and warmth he had. Rescue teams finally located him and found every dog alive, tired, and waiting beside him.
When asked why he stayed, Michael offered a quiet answer: "They would've stayed for me." His words, and his courage, turned a dangerous moment into a reminder of how loyalty can survive even the hardest conditions.
