Dogs feel safest when they’re wrapped in the love of their family, knowing they have humans to protect and cherish them. Sadly, many homeless dogs have no one to lean on. They face loneliness, fear, and uncertainty all on their own.
Royce was one of those forgotten pups. He spent his days wandering the streets, longing for kindness and a place to belong.
When a 5.2-magnitude earthquake shook Southern California, Royce didn’t have anyone to cuddle him or ease his fears. Instead, the small, severely matted dog curled up tightly behind a school at the end of a cul-de-sac. Trembling from shock, he looked completely alone in the world.
Would someone come to his aid?
Kind Hearts Step In
A passerby spotted Royce hours after the earthquake. The poor pup couldn’t stop shaking, his body overcome with fear.
Word quickly reached Suzette Hall, founder of Logan’s Legacy 29, and her volunteer, Mary Nakiso. Both women are devoted to helping abandoned dogs, and they immediately headed out to find him.
Nakiso arrived first. When she approached, she noticed that someone had kindly left food and water nearby, though Royce still looked terrified and helpless.
“[There were] sticks in his fur, and [he was] shaking and scared. [The] poor baby was probably so scared when we had that earthquake,” Hall later wrote on Facebook.
Nakiso’s heart broke for the little dog. She quietly sat beside him, speaking softly in an effort to calm his nerves. She told him he would soon be safe, and amazingly, Royce seemed to understand. For the first time, he looked like he wanted to trust.
When Hall arrived, she could see how fragile and frightened Royce truly was. Together, she and Nakiso set up makeshift barriers with gates and trash bins to block his escape.
They braced for a chase, but what happened next surprised them both—Royce didn’t run. Instead, he allowed them to gently slip a leash around his neck, as though he was finally ready to be saved.
A Life-Changing Transformation
Grateful and calm, Royce let Hall scoop him up into her arms. She carried him to the car and rushed him straight to Camino Pet Hospital in Irvine, California.
The veterinary staff examined him and ran lab work, which thankfully showed he was in good health. His only issue was his tangled, filthy coat.
The team gave Royce a soothing bath and carefully shaved away the mats and debris. Beneath the mess, a bright-eyed dog appeared, almost unrecognizable from the trembling pup they’d first seen. His tail wagged, and a smile spread across his face—Royce clearly felt relief.
With his new look and restored confidence, Royce was placed into a loving foster home. His fosters showered him with affection, finally giving him the stability he had been missing for so long.
Safe, warm, and surrounded by kindness, Royce quickly blossomed into a happy, affectionate dog. He now waits for the day his forever family finds him, ready to give him the unconditional love he has always craved.
For Royce, the earthquake marked not just fear and hardship, but also the turning point that brought him from abandonment to hope.