Imagine setting out for a peaceful trail run with a friend, only to notice something shifting beneath a bench. As you approach, two frightened eyes peer out from inside a black trash bag.
It’s hard to believe, but that’s exactly what happened to Sawna Guadarrama and her friend Hilary at the Cobb Estate Trail Head in California.
A tiny white puppy had been abandoned in the middle of nowhere. The sight stopped them in their tracks and changed the course of their day entirely.
A Shivering Pup Left All Alone
Sawna was taken aback. The puppy’s condition was heartbreaking. He was visibly scared, trembling, and completely alone.
“He was terrified. He was shaking, he was cold, and no one was around, he was completely alone,” the runner told GeoBeats Animals.
An ultra runner living in Altadena, California, with her partner Eamon and their two dogs, Sawna knew she couldn’t walk away. She scooped up the puppy, brought him home, and gave him a warm bath.
Initially, she assumed he was a lost pet. She named him Cedar and took him to the vet to check for a microchip.
While waiting for answers, she posted his photo across multiple platforms, hoping someone might recognize him. But no one came forward. Despite her efforts, Cedar’s family never appeared.
Eventually, it became clear that Cedar hadn’t wandered off, he had likely been placed in a trash bag and dumped.
“I called the humane society, posted his picture on several lost dog sites, and checked for a microchip, hoping he might have been stolen rather than intentionally abandoned. It’s hard to believe someone could be so heartless,” Sawna added on Instagram.
After exhausting every lead, Sawna and her family decided to foster Cedar temporarily, at least until a permanent home could be found. But within weeks, everything changed.
From Forgotten To Forever
Just a month later, Sawna and Eamon were amazed by Cedar’s transformation. Once timid and unsure, he had grown larger than their other dogs, Juniper and Aspen.
Even more surprising was how quickly they bonded with him. That short time was all it took for them to realize Cedar wasn’t just a foster, he was family.
Cedar was officially adopted. What began as a shocking discovery beneath a bench had turned into a lifelong connection. From the moment they met, it felt right. After all the uncertainty, Cedar had found where he truly belonged.
“Since the day we found each other, it’s been a journey of healing, and a whole lot of trail miles. From early morning runs, training time in the park, to quiet moments snuggling at home, he’s reminded me what resilience really looks like,” Sawna wrote on Instagram.
With one half-blue eye, a gentle spirit, and a passion for running, Cedar proved to be the perfect companion.
Now, he joins his humans on every long-distance run, embracing each moment and living the life he was always meant to have.