Menomonee Falls Family Provides Safe Landing for 'Twister'

A three-legged, one-eyed dog who barely survived a devastating tornado in Kentucky landed in a loving new home over the weekend after Menomonee Falls resident Karen Meinert decided to adopt the animal appropriately named "Twister."

"It’s the most wonderful thing I’ve ever been able to do," Meinert said. "He has proved himself to be a very wonderful sweetheart."

, KY, after a tornado ripped through the town on March 3, according to a press release from the . 

Twister's front leg was seriously injured and had to be amputated immediately in Kentucky, according to the release; his eye was previously missing but needed additional surgery when he arrived in Wisconsin. 

Meinert heard about the 3-year-old dog while watching the news with her husband, and decided he would be a great companion animal for her current pooch, 8-year-old Peanut.

Meinert said Peanut is "not slowing down but is not (as) fast," so Meinert figured a dog like Twister would be a good companion. When the two met, Peanut was "estatic."

Twister has since met the family's cats, and all the animals get along great, she said. Twister even spent the first night at home sleeping in bed with Meinert and her husband — which tells Meinert he was familiar with house-life while living in Kentucky.

West Liberty was one of the hardest-hit areas in Kentucky and Indiana that March weekend, where tornadoes killed at least 34 people and injured more. The town of West Liberty was nearly demolished and had at least 5 reported deaths.

Staff members at WHS were told by shelter officials in Kentucky that dogs were running loose throughout West Liberty, and many animals had to be surrendered to animal shelters because so many families had lost their homes, according to a press release from the shelter.  Several of those dogs, including Twister, were transferred to the Wisconsin Humane Society Ozaukee Campus.

For Meinert, it's not her first time giving special attention to a new animal family member; she adopted Peanut at five years old, rescuing him from an abusive family situation.

Meinert is also retired, and she said that fact gives her extra time to give to a dog who might need special attention.

"I met him and he was just a wonderful dog," Meinert said of her decision to adopt — a move she said she's hoping will inspire others.

"These are very loveable dogs who really need homes," Meinert said. "I want to inspire people ... we want someone else to give (an animal this) chance."