Life is never easy for abandoned dogs. Alone and afraid, every day is a struggle. With no food, no warmth, and danger always close, survival feels impossible.
That was the reality for Chantilly and Cheyenne. The two pups were left in a large park near Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles with nothing but a thin blanket on the cold ground. Surrounded by steep hills and prowling coyotes, their cries echoed through the night.
Fortunately, their story did not end in despair. Just when they least expected it, kind-hearted humans heard about them and rushed to their rescue.
A Desperate Situation
When Suzette Hall, the founder of Logan’s Legacy 29 in Irvine, California, received the call, she knew she had to act quickly. The report described two abandoned dogs stranded in a park too dangerous for survival.
With only a blanket for comfort, Chantilly and Cheyenne were exposed to the elements and growing weaker by the day.
For nearly two weeks, neighbors heard their barks but couldn’t reach them. Coyotes circled more than once, and locals even chased them away. The thought of the young dogs spending night after night in fear was heartbreaking.
When Hall arrived, the steep terrain made it nearly impossible to carry traps. She placed them at the bottom of the slope and threw food upward, hoping the pups would find the courage to come down.
Slowly, they did. Each step showed their fear, but hunger drove them forward. When both finally entered the traps, rescuers cried with relief. After so much suffering, Chantilly and Cheyenne were finally safe.
Sixteen Little Miracles
Hall rushed them to Camino Pet Hospital where unexpected news awaited. Both dogs were pregnant.
The discovery made Hall’s heart sink. They had not only been fighting for themselves but also for the tiny lives they carried. The thought of them giving birth alone in such a place was unbearable.
Thankfully, the story shifted toward hope. The dogs were placed in foster homes, where they could rest and prepare for motherhood.
Weeks later, Chantilly gave birth to nine healthy puppies. Soon after, Cheyenne delivered five more. What began as a mission to save two abandoned dogs became the rescue of sixteen precious lives.
“The day I thought I was saving just two lives … I actually saved sixteen. Sixteen beating hearts, sixteen chances at life,” Hall wrote on Facebook. Her words captured the overwhelming relief and gratitude that came with the rescue.
Today, Chantilly and Cheyenne are thriving in foster care with the help of Hall’s team and Alix Levy Smith from Second Leash On Life.
They are devoted mothers, showering their puppies with love that mirrors the care they’ve finally received. Watching them snuggle and kiss their babies fills their rescuers with joy.
“As I watch them take their very first breaths of safety and love, I can’t help but think, ‘This is what rescue is all about. From desperation to hope. From fear to family,’” Hall shared.
Soon, Chantilly, Cheyenne, and their puppies will be ready for adoption. Until then, they will absorb their caregivers’ love and enjoy the second chance they have been given.