When Suzette Hall received word about a shaggy animal lingering around the Home Depot shopping plaza in Compton, California, she knew she had to try to help.
The longtime rescuer and founder of Logan’s Legacy 29 drove straight to the area and circled the lot until she noticed a crumpled, furry shape.
A closer look confirmed it was the very dog she had come to find. He lay so still that he barely lifted his head.
A Motionless Shape Becomes A Plea For Help
Seeing him up close broke Hall’s heart. His coat was filthy and matted, and his body language told a story of long neglect and broken trust.
Hall hoped to coax him to safety right away, but the pup was terrified. The moment he realized she was near, he bolted and vanished between cars.
That night, Hall returned to search again with no luck. She went home discouraged yet even more determined, gathering her team to widen the effort.
A Week Of Missed Chances
Despite repeated visits at all hours, the dog, later named Oreo, kept slipping away.
“[F]or over a week, we have been trying to rescue this baby, up at 2 a.m. almost every day and staying late at night,” Hall wrote on Facebook.
They soon learned people had been chasing Oreo around the lot, which explained his fear of strangers.
The only person he seemed to tolerate was a security guard, but when Hall asked for help, the guard declined. Even so, the team stayed hopeful. If they could show Oreo he was safe, they believed he would finally accept help.
Trust, Not Traps
Store employees had been putting out food, so a traditional trap was unlikely to work.
“We weren’t giving up, [a] storm [was] coming, and I just couldn’t fathom him being out there in another storm. But we knew a trap wasn’t gonna work. Someone had to gain his trust,” Hall added.
They kept checking on him and speaking softly from a distance. Oreo watched, wary and unsure. Every gentle attempt ended with him retreating.
One afternoon, luck turned. The team spotted Oreo fast asleep near a row of parked cars. Volunteers Yamileth and Karla moved in quietly, then wrapped him in a blanket with calm, steady hands. Relief swept over everyone. Oreo was finally safe.
A New Dog Emerges
Hall settled him into the passenger seat and spoke to him in a soothing voice. Oreo seemed to understand. His body relaxed, and a faint smile appeared.
At the vet, he received a full checkup and a much needed grooming. Once the mats were shaved and he had a warm bath, a handsome pup appeared beneath the tangled fur.
With care and kind voices around him, Oreo began to look people in the eye again.
Soon after, a foster home stepped forward. Oreo adjusted quickly, enjoying soft beds, regular meals, and the comfort of a predictable routine.
He is thriving in care, and his confidence grows a little more each day. What he needs now is a forever family who will keep him safe and loved for the rest of his life.
Given how far he has come, that happy ending feels close.