Imagine heading out for a trail run with a friend, ready to enjoy the day, when you spot something moving beneath a bench. As you look closer, two frightened little eyes stare back at you from inside a black trash bag. Hard to believe, right?
That’s exactly what happened to Sawna Guadarrama and her friend, Hilary, as they arrived at the Cobb Estate Trail Head in California.
A small, white puppy had been abandoned in the middle of nowhere, catching their attention and completely altering their plans.
The Little Pup That Changed Everything
Sawna was stunned. The pup’s condition was heartbreaking. He was clearly terrified and trembling. There wasn’t another soul nearby.
“He was terrified. He was shaking, he was cold, and no one was around, he was completely alone,” the runner told GeoBeats Animals.
Sawna, an ultra runner living in Altadena, California, with her partner, Eamon, and two other pups, knew she couldn’t leave the tiny dog behind. She picked him up right away, brought him home, and gave him a warm bath.
At first, Sawna thought he must be a lost pet. She later gave him the name Cedar and brought him to the vet to scan for a microchip.
While waiting, she also shared his photo on multiple platforms in hopes that his owners might come forward. But no one responded. No matter how hard she searched, Cedar’s family never appeared.
Eventually, it became clear Cedar had likely been stuffed into a trash bag and dumped there.
“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.
At some point, Sawna and her family stopped the search. They agreed to foster Cedar for a little while, at least until he found a permanent home. But just a few weeks later, something unexpected happened.
Cedar Finds His Forever Place
After only a month, Sawna and Eamon were amazed at how quickly Cedar blossomed. Once a frightened pup, he had grown much bigger than Juniper and Aspen, the couple’s other two dogs.
What surprised them even more was how fast they grew attached to him. That short month was all it took for Sawna and Eamon to realize they couldn’t let him go. Cedar wasn’t just a foster, he was staying for good.
Now, Cedar was officially part of the family. What began as a shocking discovery turned into a lifelong bond. From the very first day, it just felt right. And after all the uncertainty, this strong little dog had truly found his place.
“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 nature, and a love for running, Cedar turned out to be a perfect match for his new family.
He now joins his humans on every long run, soaking up the joy of every moment and embracing life the way he was always meant to.