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Video of dogs rescued from flooded cages after Hurricane Florence goes viral

A video of dogs being rescued from a locked cages to survive the rising flood waters following Hurricane Florence has gone viral.

Volunteers save six dogs during Hurricane Florence.
Volunteers save six dogs during Hurricane Florence. Source: Twitter: @marcusdipaola

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By Riley Morgan


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A journalist in the US has reminded residents fleeing natural disasters to bring their pets with them, after he captured the moment volunteers rescued six dogs trapped inside cages in North Carolina. 

Hurricane Florence battered North Carolina on the weekend with low-lying neighbourhoods suffering severe flooding. 

The death toll from the hurricane currently stands at 31.

More than one million people were ordered to evacuate areas in the hurricane's path, but images of pets and animals rescued in its wake have been omnipresent.

One such rescue was captured by journalist Marcus DiPaola, who posted a video of a team of volunteer rescuers saving six dogs trapped in locked cages in rising flood waters.

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Two of the dogs could clearly be seen clawing at the cage as volunteers Ryan Nichols and David Rebollar approached. 

"The dogs were almost underwater," Mr Nichols told NBC News.

"Within an hour, they would have been dead."

The dogs ran from the cage to higher ground following their rescue.

The video has been viewed more than 5.3 million times and Mr DiPaola used his Twitter caption to remind people to attempt to bring their pets with them if they can.

NBC reported that the owners of the dogs fled the storm in a panic between Saturday and Sunday morning and were unable to bring their pets.

Since the video, the team has been praised for their efforts but claimed they hadn't travelled to North Carolina for public attention.

Mr Rebollar said he decided to volunteer in North Carolina after his business and home were flooded by Hurricane Harvey in 2017.

Mr DiPaola has posted more images of the team and other residents rescuing animals stranded in the water.

Numerous images have emerged of animals being rescued since Hurricane Florence battered North Carolina.

U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer Second Class David Kelley carries a dog from a flooded neighborhood in Lumberton, N.C., Sunday, Sept. 16, 2018.
U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer Second Class David Kelley carries a dog from a flooded neighborhood in Lumberton, N.C., Sunday, Sept. 16, 2018. Source: AAP

A man tries to get his dog out of a flooded neighborhood in Lumberton, N.C., Monday, Sept. 17, 2018, in the aftermath of Hurricane Florence.
A man tries to get his dog out of a flooded neighborhood in Lumberton, N.C., Monday, Sept. 17, 2018, in the aftermath of Hurricane Florence. Source: AAP


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