The staff at South Suburban Humane Society in Chicago Heights, Ill., welcomed back one of their own, a mixed-breed dog they thought was killed in the blizzard.

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After failing to catch the German shepherd mix the day before the blizzard struck, staffers gave up hope that the pooch would be found alive after the storm dumped at least 20 inches of snow in the Chicago area, the Chicago Tribune reported.

But lo and behold, once the roads were cleared, someone spotted the dog Thursday huddled on a porch near the shelter and called the Humane Society, Emily Klehm, executive director of the society, told the Tribune.

A worker corralled the dog and brought her to the shelter, where staffers named her Julia. She seems no worse for winter wear, appears to be friendly and will need a new home soon, Klehm said.

"She was so confused and frightened, yet we were all crying and hugging each other," she said.