linzie davis, abc news, new york. >> it's pretty remarkable. and not just in north carolina.y had police involved in avon, connecticut because police thought they may live there. this massive hunt for her and making sure the dog was okay and apparently they thought the doc was fine. >> first of all don't do it, second don't post it on facebook. police say they were swamped with calls. understandable. >> we love our dogs. >> we'll be right back. >>> with the holidays just around the corner it's that time of year, when we're stretching trying to think of clever gift ideas. how bay gift for your car? dick debartolo from gizwiz.biz. >> the show is called the specialty equipment manufacturers association, making gadgets for cars and vans and trucks. all of these are going to be great stocking stuffers. the first one, though, not till february. but this got a lot of press at the show. won a lot of awards. it's called voyo. there's a little port under your dashboard. this will plug in there. and it can turn an old car into a smart car. it has contact with many systems on your car an

that e-mail messages crashed a florida police department's the story and the photo from abc's linzie davis. >> reporter: a facebook photo causing outrage. >> reporter: a media firestorm across the country because of this picture posted on katie brown's facebook page of a chocolate lab mix with its muzzle taped shut. with the message this is what happens when you don't shut up. the picture incensing animal lovers launching a change.org petition to prosecute her. south daytona police say they received more than a million messages about that image. >> we've been ute looiszing all of our resources toward identifying the woman and locating her. >> reporter: the search for that owner spanning three states. meanwhile, brown posting again, don't panic, everyone, it was only for a minute but he hasn't barked since. point made. police finally tracking the owner and her dog down here in north carolina. >> we found the dog very well cared for. the dog appeared to be happy and in a loving home other than this bad decision. >> reporter: in a twist of fate it's the owner who's keeping her linzie davis, a

>> linzie sey davis with us tonight. thank you. >>> now to the race for 2016 tonight. donald trump with a rare acknowledgement, telling jimmy kimmel he has been, quote, late bit divisive. and this evening, getting a vote of confidence from an unlikely source. russian president vladimir putin, calling trump colorful, talented, and late today, trump responding. abc's cecilia vega on the campaign trail again tonight. >> reporter: as his rivals battle on the campaign trail, donald trump basking in the bright lights of late night tv. >> did you decide you were going to be nicer? >> you know what, i would like to see the republican party come i've been hitting people pretty >> a little bit, yeah. >> reporter: jimmy kimmel even children's book, "winners aren't >> there are two kinds of people. which one will you be? a loser like them? would you like to finish? or a winner -- >> like me. >> reporter: and today, trump getting unexpected and resounding praise from vladimir putin. [ speaking foreign language ] >> donald trump. >> reporter: putin calling trump person, and the abso

>> linzie sey davis on this case from the start. thank you. >>> now, to the weather emergency unfolding tonight, with new year's eve almost here. families trapped on top of their homes, drivers caught in their cars. 19 states now under flood watches and warnings tonight, and look at this. this is interstate 44 outside st. louis, disappearing right there in the middle under the water. meteorologist rob marciano with the dramatic rescues tonight, watching for new year's. >> reporter: tonight, already swollen missouri rivers still rising. news helicopters catching dramatic rescues. first responders using a ladder truck to rescue this man from high water. the man on that roof with his dog told rescuers he'd been there all night. hundreds of homes evacuated. federal officials watching at least 19 major levees for possible breaches. more than 200 state roads shut down for miles. >> it's pretty unreal. this is supposed to be two major highways. >> reporter: interstate 44, a major artery. carry 1g ing 100,000 cars a day. entire towns like s

linzie, thanks very much. >>> a new headline now about those hoverboards everyone is talking about. them to catch fire. now airlines are banning passengers from taking them on board. abc's linsey davis here with that story. good morning, linsey. >> reporter: file this under the category of hot, hot, hot. a lot of people will be unwrapping these gifts for the holidays but getting them home, that might be the problem. it's the toy that is topping christmas wish lists. the hoverboard, but some of these hot new rides are getting a little too hot. >> holy cow. >> reporter: reports of hoverboards catching fire like these put airlines on high alert during the height of the holiday travel season. big names such as american, united, jetblue and delta are all banning the two-wheeled machine making sure an incident like this doesn't happen up in the sky. hoverboards are powered by lithium batteries which have concerned airlines for years. the faa putting on this test showing the potential dangers of lithium batteries in a shipping container, a chain reaction explosion and fire. and while the government aboard an aircraft many of these must have new items surpass that wattage posing a potential