2010's Most Amazing Dog Survival StoriesFrom near-death experiences to super-steep tumbles, meet the canines who defied the odds this year

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VERNON: SWEPT AWAY IN FLOODS

As the Los Angeles River swelled in January, one unlucky dog named Vernon spent more than an hour in the rushing waters, struggling to stay alive. A firefighter finally reached him by helicopter and, in a stunning video, plucked him from the flood.