Hot summer days can be incredibly tough for stray animals lacking shelter, food, and water. On one particularly scorching day in California, a woman spotted something unusual on a hillside in her neighborhood. Initially, she thought it was a coyote, but after observing the creature for three days, she realized it was actually an abandoned dog—the same one that had been posted about on the Nextdoor app for weeks.
The poor pup must have been exhausted and suffering from the heat. Many neighbors spotted the dog in various locations around the neighborhood, but no one reported her missing. Concerned, the woman reached out to local rescuer Suzette Hall from Irvine, California. CONTINUE STORY BELOW
“It was so hot that day. I felt dizzy, but I thought, ‘She’s gotta be hotter,’” Hall recalled. The dog was hidden far up on a hillside, making it difficult for Hall to reach her. Thankfully, kind neighbors allowed Hall to use access from their yard.
Determined not to give up, Hall made her way up the steep incline to the area where the dog was hiding. Upon seeing her condition, Hall noted, “You could tell that she hadn’t had water in days.” She set up a trap with treats and filled a large bowl with water. The dog drank the water almost immediately but wouldn’t go inside the trap. After what felt like hours, Hall finally managed to lure the dog into the trap with fresh chicken. “I heard the trap shut and started crying. This was such a challenging rescue, and I was exhausted,” Hall wrote. CONTINUE STORY BELOW
When she looked closely at the dog, she realized it was a little Belgian Malinois puppy, around seven months old. Unable to carry the trap down the hill, Hall and her friend called the firefighters for assistance. With help from four kind-hearted firefighters, they successfully got the puppy out of the sun after she had been wandering for weeks.
“I named her Sunshine because it was so hot and because she’s a bright light of sunshine,” Hall explained. Although scared and shaking, Sunshine received love from the vet staff, which helped her regain some trust. CONTINUE STORY BELOW
Once she had settled in, Sunshine went to a wonderful foster home. Her new foster mom, Brittany, is an experienced dog trainer—exactly what Sunshine needed. Brittany decided to adopt Sunshine after the puppy walked up to her and gave her a kiss. Now, Sunshine is loved, spoiled, and enjoys her days with her furry big sister, Akeela.
