Woman Walks By A Hillside In California And Notices A Strange Figure Staring Down At Her
The summer heat can be brutal, especially for stray animals with no one to look after them, and their silent suffering often goes unnoticed.
One scorching day in a California neighborhood, a woman spotted something unusual on a hillside. At first she thought it was a coyote, so she ignored it.
However, after seeing the animal in the same spot, day after day, the woman realized a harsh truth.
It was the same dog that had been posted about for weeks on the local Nextdoor app. The dog had been wandering around, exhausted and overheated.
Neighbors had spotted her in various places, but no one knew who she was or bothered to report her missing. Something didn’t sit right, and the woman knew she had to step in.
She quickly contacted Suzette Hall, a local rescuer, who wasted no time and rushed to the scene.
Despite the intense heat and feeling dizzy herself, Suzette couldn’t stop thinking about the dog, sharing in an interview:
“It was so hot that day. I was feeling so dizzy, but I thought, ‘She’s gotta be hotter’.”
The dog was hiding up on a hillside, and it was hard for Suzette to get to her. Thankfully, kind neighbors let her use their yard to get closer and she managed to reach her.
The poor dog was in terrible condition. She hadn’t had water in days, and her suffering was painfully obvious.
Suzette quickly set up a trap, luring the dog with treats and placing a large bowl of water nearby.
The dog, desperate for hydration, drank the water immediately but hesitated to enter the trap.
Hours passed, and despite Suzette’s continued efforts to get closer, it still wasn’t enough to catch her.
Refusing to give up, Suzette left to grab some fresh chicken. When she returned, she put the chicken in the trap and slowly backed away.
As she walked off, she heard the trap shut, and when she turned around, she broke down in tears. She shared in a Facebook post:
“This was such a hard rescue because of the location she was in, so I was exhausted and hot, and I couldn’t hold back my emotions.”
After days of struggling, the dog was finally rescued and taken to safety.
When Suzette checked the trap, she realized the dog wasn’t just any stray. It was a seven-month-old Belgian Malinois puppy.
Realizing she couldn’t get the trap down the hill on her own, Suzette called firefighters for help.
They managed to bring the puppy out of the sun, where she had been wandering for weeks. That also inspired her for a name idea, as she said:
“I named her Sunshine because it was so hot and because she’s a bright light of sunshine.”
Sunshine was understandably scared and trembling. Life on the streets had taught her to be wary of anyone who might approach. But her life was about to take a turn for the better.
She was taken to the vet, where she could finally relax and receive the care she desperately needed. The staff surrounded her with love, gently helping her feel safe once more.
Not long after, Sunshine was welcomed into a foster home with Brittany, a skilled dog trainer who knew just how to help her adjust and begin to trust again.
In no time, Sunshine began to blossom. Each day, her confidence grew, and she started to trust the people around her.
Brittany couldn’t bear the thought of letting go of the sweet pup. When Sunshine walked up to her and gave her a kiss, she knew they were meant to be.
Brittany adopted Sunshine, and from that moment on, the two became inseparable.
Now, Sunshine is living the life she deserves. Her days of struggle are behind her. She’s spoiled with love and has a blast playing with her big sister, Akeela.
