The Texas Storm: Why Is This Dog Holding a Bag and Becoming an Internet Star?

The Texas storm has already taken a heavy toll on millions, including five who lost their lives. So far, thousands have been rescued from their homes and cars after getting stuck in the floods caused by Hurricane Harvey.

Amid all the chaos, a photo captured by a mother in Sinton, Texas, quickly went viral with millions of views. "I went out to my front yard when the weather calmed down a bit, to assess the damage," recalls Tiele Dockens. "I saw a dog walking alone in the deserted street, carrying something in his mouth. I immediately grabbed my camera and snapped a picture. It was just too cute."

According to Dockens, her first thought was, 'What is this dog, and what is he doing here alone?' Curious to understand what he was holding, she approached him – and got chills. "The dog was carrying a whole bag of dog food in his mouth along the street. It's like he realized on his own what was happening and stocked up on his food for an emergency."

Only after sharing the dog's picture on her Facebook page did she realize his name was Otis. "For many of us, Otis represents strength and determination during this natural disaster. Some might think it's a sad picture because Otis is completely alone in such deadly weather. But think of it this way: we can also learn a lot about bravery and coping with tough situations from dogs," Dockens wrote.