#DARRINGTON, Wash. — One Darrington family is suffering just about every emotion imaginable as they struggle to deal with the weekend’s devastating mudslide.
The Kuntz family lost homes, a loved one who was Darrington’s longtime librarian, and another relative was hospitalized on Monday.
The family came home to Darrington to find their muddy and mangled house 150 feet from its base.
“I’m still in shock that we could have been gone,” said Quinton Kuntz.
The family was attending a baseball game at the time of the slide, but their dog and cat were inside the house. Their aunt, Linda McPherson, lived next door and was killed in the slide.
“We have lost a great, great sister, but we’re a strong family and we’re going to get through this,” said Linda’s sister, Irene Kuntz.
Linda’s husband Gary was sitting in his recliner when the house crashed in. The 70-year-old grabbed wood from his chair to clear enough room to breathe.
The family had given up hope on finding their chocolate lab, Buddy, but then something improbable happened when they returned to the wreckage.
“We were looking through all the rubble and we heard the dog whining,” Quinton said.
Buddy was covered in dirt and had a few gashes, but he was alive.
“I just broke down crying, really happy that my dog was alright,” Quinton said. “I’m just shocked how well he did against my whole house falling on him.”
After finding Buddy and losing their cat, the Kuntz family is now helping rescue other animals. They found their aunt Linda’s cat on Monday.
