Shih Tzu Saves Elderly Woman From Tsunami
A year after the earthquake and tsunami hit Japan’s coastal city of Miyako, one elderly woman has her loyal Shih Tzu to thank for being alive. Eighty-three year old Tami Akanuma says her dog, Babu, rescued her life during the March 11, 2011 earthquake.
to thank for saving her from the deadly tsunami in Japan.
Babu does not normally like going for walks, but when the 12-year-old shih tzu insisted on going out Akanuma relented. The two were relaxing in her living room when the lights went out after which Babu started to pace around, whimper and madly wag her tail.
Thinking it a bit early for their regular walk, Akanuma nevertheless relented and put Babu’s leash on. As they headed out the door, the town’s community speaker system blared a warning that a huge tsunami was heading towards the coastal town. Akanuma had experienced a tsunami in 1933 during the Showa Sanriku quake, which had left more than 900 people dead or missing and knew she and Babu would need to evacuate.
It seems Babu had the same idea and as soon as they stepped outside she pulled her owner towards a nearby hill, the opposite direction they usually walk. The two made their way up a pathway at a fast pace, Babu racing ahead. When Akanuma’s lagged behind, Babu would look back, seemingly urging her owner to walk faster. When Akanuma caught up, Babu would bound ahead again, pulling at her leash.
The two continued their push-and-pull until the pair had climbed the hill, a kilometer away from her home, and close to where the evacuation center is located. Just minutes after walking uphill, the tsunami hit the town, torrents of water flattening districts. When Akanuma turned around she could barely believe her eyes. Most of the path she and Babu had walked had been swallowed up by the tsunami and her home, which was located 200 meters (219 yards) away from the sea had been consumed by the wall of muddy water.
Akanuma believes her dog sensed the torrent was coming, and instinctively knew to take to highter ground. “Babu might have sensed a tsunami was coming,” said Akanuma.