On a quiet street corner in Southern California, an 8-month-old puppy sat tied to a fire hydrant. Her leash twisted tightly around the post, her body curled into a tiny ball. Though her former owners had left behind food and water, she hadn’t touched them. Instead, she kept her head low, too heartbroken and confused to move.
The puppy, later named Cici, wasn’t waiting for food. She was waiting for someone to notice her — someone to bring her the love she had lost.
A Call for Help
When animal rescuer Suzette Hall, founder of Logan’s Legacy dog rescue, heard about the abandoned pup, she felt her heart sink. Sadly, she had already saved several dogs from that same street, and Cici was yet another victim of abandonment.
Hall wanted to help immediately, but she couldn’t reach the spot in time. So, she called a trusted neighbor who lived nearby.
“I called this woman I know who lives right by there and asked her to please go get the pup,” Hall said.
The woman dropped everything and rushed to the scene. Sure enough, she found the little puppy twisting around the hydrant, her leash pulling tighter as she struggled.
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Untangling Fear
As the neighbor knelt to help, Cici growled nervously. She didn’t understand what was happening, but with Hall coaching the woman over the phone, patience and calm won the frightened dog’s trust. Slowly, the neighbor unraveled the leash, then wrapped Cici gently in a soft blanket.
For the first time since being left alone, the puppy felt safe.
But on the drive to the vet, things took a turn.
“She got so sick in the car,” Hall explained. “We think it was from fear and lack of food and water since she was too scared to eat the food they’d left.”
Emergency Care at the Hospital
The neighbor rushed her to Camino Pet Hospital, where the medical team quickly stepped in. Cici received fluids, care, and comfort from staff who refused to give up on her.
“They monitored her, then, all of a sudden, she was fine,” Hall said. “She finally started perking up.”
With each passing hour, her body grew stronger and her spirit began to return.
A New Friendship
At the hospital, Cici made many friends, but her connection with Hedy Herold, the office manager, stood out.
“Whenever Hedy walks by her, Cici starts wiggling her tail,” Hall said. “She gets so excited because she knows it’s Hedy.”
Most days, Cici could be found curled up in Hedy’s arms, enjoying the affection and care she had been missing.
A Second Chance at Life
Recently, Cici was cleared for foster care. She will soon leave the hospital and move in with a temporary family — one that will give her love, stability, and safety while she waits for her forever home.
Hall, who has seen countless dogs rescued and adopted, is hopeful for Cici’s future. “She’s resilient,” Hall said. “She went through so much, but she’s already recovered beautifully.”
Final Thoughts
Cici’s journey from abandonment to safety is both heartbreaking and inspiring. Left alone on the street, tied to a fire hydrant, she might have given up. But thanks to the quick actions of compassionate people, she now has a second chance.
Her story is a reminder of how powerful rescue can be. For one small dog, it changed everything. Now, she’s not just surviving — she’s finally ready to thrive.
