Tiny Dog Survives Eight Days in the Elko County Elements

Tiny Dog Survives Eight Days in the Elko County Elements


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Alex Cabrero reporting Now that Christmas has come and gone, not many of us have enjoyed our gifts as much as this next family.

Their best present is their pet poodle, even though they've had her for six years.

We've all heard of the Christmas miracle, it's what Christmas is all about. But at a time when you're supposed to be happy, the Dellasilva family was sad, and it would take a miracle to make them happy again.

Tiny Dog Survives Eight Days in the Elko County Elements

In a house full of Christmas decorations, to Lee and Irene Dellasilva, it was just plain empty. Their beloved poodle Miss Lizzie was gone.

Irene Dellasilva, North Ogden Resident: "I’ve never had any children. She is my child."

Miss Lizzie ran away after the Dellasilvas were in a car accident near Elko, Nevada a week and a half ago.

Their car slid on ice, and flipped over into the median.

Lee Dellasilva, North Ogden Resident: "My wife Irene was holding Lizzie and when it hit on top, she involuntarily let go, and when everything settled, she ran out the window like a rocket shot."

Irene Dellasilva, North Ogden Resident: "Gone, and I’m screaming at the top of my lungs."

Family and friends placed posters in the Elko area, but after a week, they didn't have a good feeling.

Irene Dellasilva, North Ogden Resident: "Lizzie is gone, dead, and all I want is even if I could get her little body back just to have closure."

But on the 8th day, a phone call.

Tiny Dog Survives Eight Days in the Elko County Elements

Lee Dellasilva, North Ogden Resident: "She just screamed hysterically, and she yelled is she dead... and then just collapsed on the floor."

Collapsed, because she couldn't believe it.

"Come on Lizzie, come on... There's the miracle baby!"

Lizzie was alive, a railroad worker found her hiding on train tracks.

Lee himself is a retired railroad worker and couldn't believe the coincidence.

Lee Dellasilva, North Ogden Resident: "As far as I’m concerned, it has to be a higher being that took care of her and looked after her."

Irene Dellasilva, North Ogden Resident: "I’m still crying."

Eight days alone in the cold with nothing to eat. Miss Lizzie is now home, the perfect Christmas present.

Lee Dellasilva, North Ogden Resident: "I can't explain. It's a miracle. That's all I can tell you... It's a miracle."

The man who found the dog refused the thousand dollar reward; instead the Dellasilva's donated it to the Elko animal rescue.

Miss Lizzie lost three pounds during her adventure, but is doing fine. What a story... if only she could talk.

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