When a dog has been treated poorly, it is devastating to see how deeply that experience can affect them. They cannot understand that some people are willing to care for them, yet with steady reassurance, many learn to trust again.
This account follows three large dogs abandoned by their owner on a California mountain and the person who refused to leave them behind.
Stranded On A California Hillside
Veronica was hiking with her own dog on a familiar mountain trail when something unusual caught her attention. A dark figure moved along the rocky slope, and she paused, trying to make sense of what she was seeing.
Curious and concerned, she stepped off the main path to get a better view.
She told The Dodo: “He went up the side of a cliff. I kind of ventured into the trees and I realized it was three dogs.”
Up close, their condition became alarmingly clear. Their hip bones and ribs were visible, and their weak movements showed that they had gone without proper food for a long time.
Although the dogs needed help urgently, her attempts to get them into her car only frightened them more. They kept their distance, unsure of her intentions.
Instead of forcing a stressful encounter, Veronica left food behind and headed home, planning to return soon.
She reached out to Animal Control, but the steep landscape and unstable ground prevented the agency from sending a team. That left Veronica with few resources and an enormous problem to solve.
Realizing that the responsibility now rested on her shoulders, she said, “Now I have this huge responsibility for three lives and I don’t know what to do.”
She began visiting the site daily, sitting quietly nearby while a plate of food rested on the ground. The dogs watched her from a distance, moving forward and back in a cycle of fear and hunger.
Her father joined her on many of these trips and gave the dogs names to remind them that someone cared. He called them Grace, Steve, and George. The pair returned again and again, hoping the animals would slowly begin to believe in human kindness.
A Journey Toward Safety
After three weeks of consistent effort, the dogs were finally calm enough to take food directly from their hands. This moment marked an important change, but Veronica understood that a long term plan was still needed.
With the help of more volunteers, they constructed a large kennel on the mountain and placed food inside to encourage the trio to enter. When Grace, Steve, and George stepped in together, the door closed gently behind them. The strategy worked on the first attempt, something none of the rescuers expected.
Veronica said: “It went so smoothly. Once we got them, I basically just cried all the way down the mountain.”
Thanks to the combined efforts of everyone involved, the three dogs were finally transported to a shelter in California. Veronica and her helpers continued to visit and support them as they adjusted to their new surroundings.
With time, the dogs began to relax. They learned to walk with confidence, greet people, and explore without fear controlling their every move.
Their future families have not yet been chosen, but they are now on the path toward homes where they can feel secure and understood.