Went afk when I paused died to a lightning strike and animals are gone

I paused my game in the both game and by pausing in the switch menu and went afk. I go back into the game and I suddenly get struck by lightning, which only started when I go back in the game and ends so abruptly its mind boggling. I only really started to play minecraft recently but I know enough to know that my items are gone. which sucks but it's not the main issue. because all of a sudden the game is crashing hardcore. Like it doesn't exit the game but for some bizarre reason it reloads improperly and I come back to my world fine. But all my farm animals are either disappeared or outside roaming. And what's worse is that when I go to my base all my pets are gone, from the dogs, cat even parrot! Honestly this just is upsetting really, I don't think I quite want to play in my world for now after all those long hours of playing.  quick note the typical restarting the game doesn't work at all either. Hopefully there is some resolve to this bizzare thing.