In November, the tornado that killed Maryland Gomez, 61, of Kenly also injured three of her dogs. All wound up at Johnston Animal Hospital in Smithfield for treatment.

Two of them, Yorkshire terriers named Oscar and Ty, are now in new homes. The third was put to sleep after sustaining major injuries.

Amy Ryan, a manager at Johnston Animal Hospital, helped care for Oscar and Ty. “They were cold and shaken up a bit,” she said. “It was pitiful. They were Mrs. Gomez’s babies, so that wasn’t something they were accustomed to.”

But the dogs eventually overcame their skittishness, Ryan said. “Once they got their bath, and we sat down and played with them and loved them, they opened up,” she said. “They knew they were going to be OK.” Debbie and Jack Bollinger of Archer Lodge and Kayla Collier, Debbie’s daughter, adopted Oscar, 20 months old. Marla and John Blanton and their children, Amanda, 17, and Dillon, 15, took in 15-month-old Ty. Both families said their dogs have outstanding personalities, which they attributed to the Gomez family.

“He has the best demeanor of any dog I’ve known,” Jack Bollinger said. “His demeanor is just so calm and so sweet. All he wants to do is be around you. That lady who had him before was a good dog trainer.”

“Our hearts go out to the Gomezes and their loss,” said John Blanton of Smithfield.

“We want them to know he is being taken cared of,” Blanton’s wife added. The dogs are comfortable around people, their owners said. Oscar enjoys lying at people’s feet, begging for belly rubs and chewing his favorite bone. Ty sleeps beside Marla at night and wakes her up in the morning with kisses.

Both dogs prefer table scraps to regular dog food. In fact, the Bollingers almost named Oscar “Scrapper” because of his love for people food.

“We are trying to get him away from that,” said Debbie Bollinger. “He likes pineapple, ham and pizza.” The storm has left a lasting impression on the dogs. Both are afraid of loud noises, and Ty refuses to be outside in the rain. Oscar is terrified of howling winds, and sometimes, he barks in his sleep, leading the Bollingers to believe he is having nightmares about the tornado.

Oscar is not afraid to let his presence be known, while Ty is shy and reserved. “Whenever someone pulls up, he starts barking like he is trying to earn his keep,” Jack Bollinger said. “He lets us know when somebody is coming, but all you’ve got to do is pet him.”

The Bollingers and Blantons agreed that adopting the dogs was a blessing for their families. “I lost my dad three years ago, and he was a big dog lover,” Debbie Bollinger said. “Sometimes, I feel like it was heaven-sent. I think God put him in our hands for a reason.”