Three Matted Pups Hide In The Bushes In LA, Carrying More Pain Than Anyone Could See
She didn’t have a place to call home in Los Angeles County. No porch, no warm corner, no door to wait behind.
What she had was her pack.
Two other dogs never left her side, and she never wandered far from them. Wherever one moved, the others followed, as if an invisible thread held them together.
Left behind in a strange neighborhood and forgotten by the people who should’ve cared, they leaned on one another to get through each long, scary hour.
When footsteps came too close, they slipped away into a cluster of thick bushes. That small, hidden space became their shelter, their safety, their entire world.
They seemed to understand that staying together was the only way to survive. And so, for days on end, the three of them remained tucked away, guarding one another in silence.
One day, a woman passing by caught sight of something unusual: a small white face, matted with fur, peeking out from the greenery.
The look in the pup’s eyes stopped her in her tracks. As she inched closer, two more dogs crept out from the bushes.
Right away, she knew. These weren’t strays hardened by the streets. They were abandoned pets, scared out of their minds, begging for help.
The woman tried to coax them out, but fear took over. Two of the dogs bolted and disappeared.
Only one stayed behind. It was a little girl who couldn’t run because her leg was badly injured. That pup would later be named Lemondrop.
The woman scooped Lemondrop into her arms and carried her home. She quickly reached out to Logan’s Legacy 29, a rescue group that has saved countless desperate animals across LA.
Founder Suzette Hall sent her volunteer, Mary Nakiso, ahead to track the missing pups until she could arrive.
Mary spotted the frightened pair hiding under her car, and once Suzette arrived, the two rescuers placed a crate nearby.
They carefully guided one pup, later named Tudy Bloom, into the crate, sharing on Facebook:
“I was able to sneak up behind the little girl and get her into the crate… But the little boy went running for his life.”
Suzette refused to give up. The runaway darted into a nearby yard. Suzette shouted for the homeowner until someone appeared and unlocked the gate, as she shared:
“The kind neighbor came out and let me in, and I was able to get him safe into my arms. Poor baby had blood coming out of his mouth.”
Finally, all three pups were safe in their car, where something incredible happened. As they curled up together in the backseat, Suzette heard the sweetest sound, sharing:
“I could hear them snoring. They knew they were safe.”
Their nightmare was finally over.
At the vet clinic, each one received a thorough exam, treatment, and their first warm baths in who knows how long.
Their matted fur was shaved away, revealing the dogs they were always meant to be.
Tudy Bloom’s transformation was especially striking. Once weighed down by filth and knots, she emerged smiling and wagging her tail. Suzette shared:
“This sweet girl was so matted and dirty. But oh my goodness, when we shaved away her past, it was all smiles and gratefulness.”
Lemondrop’s injuries turned out to be severe. Her kneecap was shattered beyond repair. Sadly, vets had to amputate her leg.
But nothing could dim her spirit. With three legs, she adjusted quickly, hopping around and proving nothing would slow her down.
And little Kermit had lost his entire front row of teeth, likely from trauma or years of neglect.
He was started on antibiotics and pain medication, and slowly, his body began to heal. More importantly, his trust in people started to return.
Together, the three pups blossomed. They grew stronger, braver, and more affectionate with each passing day.
Today, Lemondrop, Tudy Bloom, and Kermit are thriving in loving foster homes. Their days of hiding under bushes are over.
Instead, they’re surrounded by warmth, care, and people who see their worth. They may still be waiting for their forever homes, but their hearts no longer carry the same fear.
