#DARRINGTON, Wash. — One Darrington family is suffering just about every emotion imaginable as they struggle to deal with the weekend’s devastating mudslide.<\/p>\n
The Kuntz family lost homes, a loved one who was Darrington’s longtime librarian, and another relative was hospitalized on Monday.<\/p>\n
The family came home to Darrington to find their muddy and mangled house 150 feet from its base.<\/p>\n
“I’m still in shock that we could have been gone,” said Quinton Kuntz.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
The family had given up hope on finding their chocolate lab, Buddy, but then something improbable happened when they returned to the wreckage.<\/p>\n
“We were looking through all the rubble and we heard the dog whining,” Quinton said.<\/p>\n
Buddy was covered in dirt and had a few gashes, but he was alive. <\/p>\n
“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.”<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n