Images of residents reuniting with their beloved pets after the twister made readers' hearts leap

Stories You're Talking About: The 5 Best Animal Rescue Photos from the Oklahoma Tornado

Amid the heartbreak, there was hope – thanks to some furry friends, and a few big-hearted humans.

Despite the devastation in Oklahoma Monday after a deadly tornado tore through the state, readers found joy in the heartfelt images of shell-shocked residents reuniting with their beloved pets, and shared the heartwarming pictures in droves. (See them all here.)

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First there was Sammi, the valiant feline whose grateful owner, June Simson, found the kitty covered in dirt and standing atop the splintered remains of her Moore, Okla. home.

Then there was Bella, who was sandwiched in a hug between owner Jessica Wilkinson and Alli Christian, who found the pup and returned her to Wilkinson, whose Norman, Okla. home was nearly leveled in the storm.

These and the other images project a sense of peace and calm amid the chaos and loss – even as others still yearn to reunite with their beloved pets.

Here’s how you can help. Displaced Oklahoma residents in search of their missing pets can also visit the Moore Oklahoma Tornado Lost and Found Animals Facebook page, where contributors have been posting photos of recovered animals.