Harman Law - November/December 2023

A Dog’s Intuition: How Babu Saved Her Human From a Tsunami

The tsunami that struck Japan in March 2011 was unimaginable; the natural disaster killed nearly 20,000 people in minutes. But amid the chaos, there was at least one tiny miracle: an 11-year-old Shih Tzu named Babu. Tami Akanuma, an 83-year-old woman living in the coastal city of Miyako, had her typical morning interrupted by a 9.0 earthquake that shook her house roughly 200 yards from the coast. When it stopped, she breathed a sigh of relief, but Babu became extremely agitated. The small dog began frantically pacing around the living room, moaning, and jumping at the door. Though it was early for Babu’s morning walk, Akanuma decided to appease her. Sources differ on what happened next. Some say officials broadcast a tsunami warning, and Akanuma realized she must evacuate, while others state she knew nothing of the impending disaster. But everyone agrees that Babu jumped into action. She instantly headed for a large hill near Akanuma’s home — the opposite direction of the pair’s usual walk.

Akanuma said Babu seemed to be encouraging her to move faster, and the dog ran ahead every time Akanuma caught up. Akanuma later estimated they walked more than half a mile in a few minutes. Only moments after the duo finally reached the top of the hill, they watched an enormous wave wash over their home. The house was destroyed, but Akanuma and Babu escaped with their lives. How did Babu do it? People have long suspected that animals can predict natural disasters, but the truth is elusive. Scientists agree that animals aren’t psychic but disagree on whether something else might be at play. Some attribute the supposed phenomenon to the “psychological focusing effect,” or a human tendency to emphasize one detail in our memories while discarding others. But others point to dogs’ heightened senses of hearing and smell, suggesting animals may be able to detect small atmospheric changes that humans can’t. No matter the explanation, Akanuma credited her dog with saving her life, and the two gratefully celebrated Babu’s 12th birthday from an evacuation shelter only weeks later.

Akanuma did not dismiss the dog’s instincts. Babu tugged urgently at her leash, running as far as she could before turning to her owner.

Support a Local CharityThis Holiday Season!

WHEN YOU VOLUNTEER, YOU CAN CHANGE LIVES

With the season overflowing with festivities, gift-giving, and shopping sprees, we must remember to give to those who need it most. The Harman Law Firm supports numerous national and local charities year-round. But when the holiday season begins, we like to offer our assistance to our own community. Here are two causes I’d like to highlight.

assistance. In Charlotte alone, 200 new families will face a childhood cancer diagnosis yearly. Many of these families struggle to make ends meet amid this stressful period. Emily and Kevin Ratliff were closely tied to their community through church, school, sports, and more. The “Army” was formed before their daughter Claire was even born, but when she was diagnosed with stage 4 neuroblastoma cancer in 2011, Claire’s Army united to support the Ratliffs. The organization tirelessly works to uplift countless families affected by childhood cancer. Just recently, Jen and I attended an auction to help raise funds for those families needing extra support. BAGS OF HOPE Our firm not only donates to Bags of Hope, but we also come together to volunteer for this incredible cause. While many kids receive free or low-cost breakfast and lunch meals at their school, they may come home to find little to no food, especially during the weekend.

Bags of Hope combats food insecurity in the Charlotte area by providing free food for children and families. The Harman Law team often volunteers together to package these meals and help out the organization. Meanwhile, I’ll usually bring my kids along to help deliver donations. Bags of Hope also brings paper grocery bags to different neighborhoods and encourages others to fill them with food for donation. My kids love going through our pantry to find whatever we have to make meals for others. Helping our community means so much to our firm, and I aim to ensure our team supports different causes as often as possible. I hope you and your loved ones can donate some of your time or resources to help those in need this holiday season. Let’s come together to make a difference in our community!

CLAIRE’S ARMY My wife and I have long supported this

organization, and we like to give a helping hand whenever we can. Claire’s Army helps families with young children battling cancer, offering everything from meal programs to financial

–Michael Harman

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Unwavering Client Experience. Outstanding Results. – HarmanLawNC.com

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