Obituaries

Annie survived the 2011 Joplin tornado.
One of the most violent, most damaging and deadliest EF5 tornadoes in U.S. history.
I saw the devastation in person and it's the kind of scene you never forget.
Annie ended up alone on the streets for a week after the storm, eventually rescued and taken to an ASPCA field hospital that provided emergency sheltering for approximately 1,300 other displaced animals.
A month later, I adopted her.
I have no idea what her name was or what kind of home life she had before the tornado.
Judging by her sweet demeanor and perfect behavior, I truly believe she was raised by a very loving family.
The fact she was never claimed at the shelter by her owner(s) makes me wonder if they even survived the tornado.
She was now an orphan, so I named her Annie.
And the fact our crew did live shots from Annie Baxter Avenue in Joplin, just made the name even more perfect.
For the next 14 years, she lived a long and beautiful life, touching the heart of every single person who met her.
“Pets are not just animals, they are gifts to us that bring love and joy to our lives.”– Bob Barker