WASHINGTON, Ill. » A dog and his owner have been reunited after the animal was found under a pile of rubble more than a week after a tornado ripped through a central Illinois city.

Jacob Montgomery of Washington and his dog Dexter were separated when the Nov. 17 tornado damaged Montgomery’s third floor apartment.

Montgomery is a member of the Illinois National Guard.

A guard spokesman says a neighbor sent Montgomery a Facebook message nine days later to tell him Dexter had been found under debris where the apartment used to be.

An animal rescuing organization had coaxed the 6-month-old puppy out of the rubble with hot dogs.

A veterinarian found Dexter to be malnourished, but without any major injuries.

Montgomery says as soon as the dog saw him "his tail started going."