While hiking along a narrow and slippery path on Lookout Mountain in Phoenix, Arizona, a man had no idea what was waiting for him.
Focused on his trek, he happened to spot a pair of striking amber eyes staring at him from a rocky gap in the mountain.
What he saw left him stunned — the eyes belonged to a terrified, exhausted dog clinging to life.
Her dirt-colored fur camouflaged her perfectly. If not for her eyes, the hiker likely would’ve passed right by without ever seeing her.
She was emaciated, barely able to move, and looked like she had given up completely.
Rescuers Rushed To Help The Weak Pup
When she saw the hiker, she managed to raise her head. It was a small sign of hope, as if she realized someone might finally help her.
The man gently comforted her, then contacted the Arizona Humane Society (AHS) for help.
AHS emergency responders Ruthie Jesus and Tracey Miiller rushed to the location without hesitation.
The hiker, full of compassion, stayed with the dog — later named Bright Eyes — for nearly two hours until help arrived.
“… She blends in so much, the complainant told us that he wanted to call her Bright Eyes because when he hiked past her, that was literally the only thing he saw was her amber bright eyes staring back at him,” Jesus said in a video taken by the AHS after the rescue.
Though she was still afraid, Bright Eyes allowed them to approach and help her.
They examined her right away. She was dangerously dehydrated, with cuts on her paws and a wound on her rear.
Despite everything, Bright Eyes allowed gentle touches on her head. She was a sweetheart, just frozen in fear and unable to move.
She didn’t have the strength to walk, so her rescuers took turns carrying her down the mountain.
Bright Eyes appeared to relax in their arms. For the first time in a long while, she felt safe.
Her sorrowful gaze began to shift. Now her eyes reflected trust and thankfulness for those who came to her rescue.
She knew she was finally getting the help she so desperately needed.
Now She’s Getting The Care She Deserves
How Bright Eyes ended up stranded on the mountain remains a mystery.
Her rescuers were simply grateful that she was found in time.
“We were so elated to be able to get her. She was just so dehydrated. I think she’d probably been up there several days and that was probably her last day, and this Good Samaritan really just saved her life,” Jesus added.
Bright Eyes was transported to a hospital where she received fluids, medicine, antibiotics, and treatment for her stomach problems.
She’s believed to be around two years old.
Once she fully recovers, this sweet Arizona girl will be ready to search for a forever family.
Thanks to a caring stranger and two amazing rescue workers, her life was saved.