One day, while hiking her usual trail in the Angeles National Forest in California with her dog, Veronica Shea spotted something out of the ordinary.
As she rounded a bend, she noticed what she described as a “huge black thing” moving up the side of a cliff.
When she realized it was a dog, she decided to follow — and she was glad she did.
A Lost Pack
The dog led her straight to two more canines, all of them extremely underweight and alone in the wilderness. Convinced they had been abandoned, Veronica knew she couldn’t leave them there.
For the next several weeks, she climbed up the mountain regularly, bringing food and working to earn their trust.
“You could see how malnourished they were. You could really see their ribs. You could count their vertebrae,” Veronica recalled.
Her persistence paid off. The dogs began to grow accustomed to her presence, eventually eating right out of her hand.
Although this was a huge step forward, she still needed to figure out how to get all of them safely off the mountain.
She thought about trapping them one at a time but worried the others would run if one disappeared. It was clear she needed backup.
The Rescue Operation
When Veronica reached out for help, an entire team of rescuers volunteered.
“We came up with a plan. We have to build a crazy contraption that can be close by remote.”
Together, they hauled equipment up the mountain and constructed a makeshift cage large enough to hold all three dogs.
Carefully, they lured them inside and managed to carry them down to safety.
The Mastiffs — now named Princess George, Grace, and Steve — were finally out of danger. But their journey was far from over.
Skill Development Program
The rescuers contacted renowned California dog trainer and behaviorist Cheri Wulff Lucas to help the frightened pack learn to trust again.
“They weren’t adoptable the way they came. They couldn’t be touched. They couldn’t be leashed. They were just terrified,” Cheri explained.
Even after some progress, the dogs still startled easily, making it difficult to place them in typical homes.
“It was going to take a very special home for them to go into because they’re not the kind of dogs that are going to go to the dog park. Even walking them on city streets would be a lot for them. And if they do spook, they weigh 125 pounds, so [they would be] very hard to contain.”
Since Cheri lived in a remote area with no traffic or neighbors, she knew they’d be safe with her. She hadn’t planned on keeping them — but that’s exactly what happened.
The dogs not only found a secure home, but they also became valuable partners in Cheri’s work.
“If I get dogs that need socialization — to be more familiar and less reactive with other dogs — I use my pack to help rehabilitate them. And all three of them are highly social with dogs. They know how to smell properly, how to not overpower the dog that needs the socialization. They’re just flawless. And that’s not something I taught them — they came that way.”
Reliable Helpers
The pack proved especially helpful with a pup named Andi, who had spent seven years in a pen with no human contact.
Sensing Andi’s fear, Princess George, Grace, and Steve comforted her and made her feel safe.
“It was really sweet to see. They brought her around in a way that I never could as a human.”
Seeing their bond, Cheri adopted Andi as well — making her the 12th dog in her pack.
Years later, Princess George, Grace, and Steve are unrecognizable from the malnourished dogs found on the mountain.
George and Steve love to run and socialize, while Grace remains a bit shy, but the three are still inseparable.
“If you came to my house and did not know their backstory, you would think they were like any other dog. They’re pets — they’re really pets now. They’re not cases for me anymore.”