Orkin PMP and Rescue Dog Perform Heroic Acts During Central Texas Floods

WACO, Texas – Significant, persistent rainfall and storms hit Central Texas on July 4. According to CNN, at least 136 people died due to the catastrophic flooding. That night, Tommy Hudson, an Orkin pest control service pro, couldn’t sleep.

Hudson, whose pit bull mix, Buddy, is a certified search and rescue dog through the Search and Rescue (SAR) program in Austin, Texas, knew there was more he could be doing to help his community.

With approvals from Orkin to leave the field early, Hudson and Buddy went to work on July 5.

“I went home and decided right then and there that we’re probably going to do something,” Hudson said. “I received a text from the American Red Cross that said anybody that had a search-and-rescue dog was encouraged to respond.”

Hudson updated his wife, who replied, “Well, I guess you’ve got to put Buddy to the test.”

When Hudson and Buddy arrived to the area affected by the floods, Hudson said it was worse than he could’ve imagined. Huge cypress trees had blown over, destroyed. After he and Buddy registered, they were assigned a section to help search.

Although Buddy was timid at first due to the rushing water and rain, he and Hudson got to work.

Hudson watched for Buddy to stop and sit, indicating a person in need of help nearby. During search-and-rescue missions, if Buddy stays sitting, he’ll turn in the direction the person is located, signaling to Hudson where they need to go.

Hudson started scanning the area with no luck — until Buddy finally looked up. There, Hudson saw a teenage girl hanging onto a tree with her legs while holding two young girls in both arms. Hudson signaled for officials to rescue the girls from the tree.

At the end of their six-hour search-and-rescue mission, which ended because the water levels became too high, Hudson and Buddy rescued three people and brought closure to families whose loved ones passed away. The two went back to the area of the floods for three weeks to continue their efforts. “I’m impressed with Buddy,” said Hudson. 

About two weeks after Hudson and Buddy’s heroic mission, one of the young girls who was rescued from the tree came to visit Hudson’s home. She gifted Hudson a gold teddy bear charm that she took from her necklace, which is now riding with Hudson in his Orkin truck. The girl also gave Buddy a new harness with an American flag patch on one side and a patch that reads “I’m very special” on the other. 

“That’s what really turned the corner and helped me understand that I did do something special down there,” Hudson said. “I would do it again today. There’s no doubt.”

Buddy’s Life-Saving Acts. When Buddy was six months old, Hudson took him camping in Gatesville, Texas, on the Leon River. As the duo was relaxing in their camper, Buddy’s head suddenly perked up, and he wouldn’t stop looking in a specific direction. Hudson said he just thought Buddy wanted to go outside.

“So, I took him out. He started pulling real hard down the road, and finally, it got to a point where I could hear somebody screaming [for] help,” Hudson said.

Hudson and Buddy found a man stuck in the middle of the Leon River in the dark who couldn’t find his way out after being bitten by a snake. Tommy released Buddy into the water, and the two brought the man back to land.

“That’s when I knew — this dog has the drive to do what a search-and-rescue dog does,” said Hudson.

Buddy went through 12 weeks of training, more than what is typically required, because there was skepticism about him being part pit bull.

“They were afraid he would attack somebody or do something bad when we were out doing search and rescue,” Hudson said.

After completing the program, Hudson said Buddy became one of the only dogs in the system who is part pit bull to be a search-and-rescue dog.

Courtesy of Tommy Hudson

A man and his best friend. After Hudson’s search-and-rescue-certified dog, Taz, passed away after 16 years, it was difficult for him, especially to lose his friend and a dog committed to helping others, he said. But on a day off from work, he drove past an adoption event at a local dog shelter.