There is currently a claim circulating that the “mainstream media” is using a photo of a woman who allegedly found a cat under the rubble in Ukraine. What initially sounds like a touching story becomes more complicated when you learn that the same image appeared in the US back in 2011. The story of the photo goes back to Terrla Cruse, who rescued her cat Lavern from the rubble of her destroyed home after the devastating tornado in Joplin.

“Ukraine: A girl whose house was destroyed dug up her cat…” A mystery!

One thing remains unclear: How could this image, clearly from 2011 in the USA, suddenly appear in the context of current events in Ukraine? And why did so many people believe it was spread by the mainstream media?

The fact is that not a single media reported on it . The origin of this misinformation was just a user on Twitter, who has already removed . So it was a single, perhaps well-intentioned, but perhaps also manipulative statement. This image was posted on Twitter in July 2023. The text “Kramatorsk, Ukraine: A girl whose house was destroyed dug up her cat.” How users came to the conclusion that the media reported this remains a mystery! We were unable to find a single reputable media report that used this 2011 photo as a "symbolic photo" as claimed.

The miracle of cat rescue in a fact check
Screenshot: Twitter

During our research, it turns out that the photo is actually from 2011, when a devastating tornado hit the city of Joplin in the USA.

The 2011 tornado was a devastating natural event and one of the deadliest tornadoes in U.S. history. Not only did it claim lives, but it also left a deep scar on the Joplin community. The National Weather Service confirmed it was an EF5 tornado, the highest category on the Fujita scale.

Terrla's story: More than just a viral image

Terrla Cruse, the woman in the photo, visited the rubble of her destroyed home several times after the tornado. During one of her visits, she heard a cat meowing and realized it was her own cat, Lavern, whom she had not seen since the tornado. Lavern was found alive under the rubble 16 days later.

The Power of Social Media: It is important to verify the sources of information, especially in times of fake news and rapidly spreading misinformation.

ClaimsFact check
The story took place during current events in Ukraine 2023.Incorrect. The story goes back to the 2011 tornado in Joplin, USA.
Many media outlets spread the image.Incorrect. Not a single well-known media reported about it. Only one Twitter user posted the picture.
The image was used as a “symbolic photo” by the media for the events in Ukraine.Incorrect. No reputable media report could be found that used the photo from 2011 as a “symbolic photo.”
The photo shows a girl from Ukraine whose house was destroyed and her cat was dug up.Incorrect. The photo shows Terrla Cruse, who rescued her cat Lavern from the rubble after a tornado in the USA in 2011.

The power of stories and why they are shared

People love stories, especially ones that touch the heart. The picture of Terrla and her cat Lavern certainly touched many hearts. But as is often the case in life, the truth lies in the details. It's important that we keep reminding ourselves to look deeper and see the whole story rather than being fooled by a headline or a tweet.

The story of the woman and her cat from the rubble is touching and true. But it takes place in a different time and place. In a time when misinformation can spread so quickly, we all need to be careful about what we share and believe. It reminds us to always be vigilant and look for the full story behind every viral image or message.

Source: Dailymail , Wikipedia 2011 Joplin tornado

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Notes:
1) This content reflects the current state of affairs at the time of publication. The reproduction of individual images, screenshots, embeds or video sequences serves to discuss the topic. 2) Individual contributions were created through the use of machine assistance and were carefully checked by the Mimikama editorial team before publication. ( Reason )