Kicker: Lost in Paradise

NICK EICHER, HOST: A California family was reunited with their lost dog this week, a 12-year-old Akita named Kingston.

Young Meleah Ballejos cried tears of joy as she hugged her pet for the first time in more than 3 months.

MALEAH: Hi baby! [doggie talk]

Remarkably, the dog survived on its own for 101 days before a local animal rescue group found the dog and phoned its family.

The story is even more remarkable when you consider where Kingston went missing:

In the fire-ravaged town Paradise, California.

The dog jumped out of the back of the family’s pickup truck as they were fleeing the wildfire. Gabriel Ballejos told KXTV news…

BALLEJOS: When I found out it just about brought me to tears. I’m just so proud of him. I can’t believe it. He’s a true survivor.

A survivor indeed! The family believes Kingston survived by hunting skunks. How did they know? Are you kidding me?  

It’s The World and Everything in It.

(Ben Lepe via AP) This Feb. 18, 2019 photo provided by Ben Lepe shows Maleah Ballejos reunited with her dog Kingston in Paradise, Calif. 

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