Rescuers Didn’t Know What To Expect When They Got A Call About A Stray

When you find an animal in need of help, it is only natural to feel sad. This is something that rescuers see on a regular basis. We are glad that they bring these creatures to safety and find them new homes. Hope for Paws is one of these groups that help with the rehabilitation of strays. One day, the team received a call that had something to do with a German Shepherd mix. It turned out to be an emotional rollercoaster for everyone involved!

It Was Cowering Beneath a Car

They got the call on a rainy morning. The Hope for Paws team learned about a stray dog that was, according to the caller, probably a German Shepherd mix. The dog in question had been hiding below a parked car on its own. Apparently, she had been hiding from humans to the best of her ability.

Try To Lure The Dog Out

Loreta Frankonyte and Eldad Hagar acted on the call. The two Hope for Paws members raced to the scene. On the way there, they made sure to grab a cheeseburger. You will soon find out why they had to do that! He is one of the founders of the organization, whose mission is to rescue animals in need.

Avoiding Contact With Humans

The German Shepherd mix had been staying beneath a van as it tried to avoid humans. She appeared unwilling to leave that spot and seemed terrified of people. In the hopes of getting her out of there, Loreta crouched down to show the cheeseburger that they brought with them. Did it work?

Proceed With Caution

Loreta wanted to comfort the poor dog, not scare her away. This was the reason she was careful as she came closer to the van. Their goal was to help the terrified creature, but it was also important for them to look after their own safety. After all, it would do more harm than good if the dog acted aggressively.

No, Thank You

It would have been normal if the dog behaved more aggressively as Loreta drew nearer. To their great surprise, the hound began to whimper instead! It was clear that she was more scared than anything else. Aside from that, it looked like she was a stray and wary of people. What should they do now?

Never Heard Something Like It

The organization later posted a YouTube video about the rescue. In it, they explain, “At first we thought she was hurt but she cried because she was so scared.” You should take a look at the video for yourself. Its title says, ‘Homeless German Shepherd cries like a human! I have never heard anything like this!!!’

Slowly But Surely

Loreta showed the dog the cheeseburger, although she did not seem to care much for it. After some time, she began to cry less. The pooch eventually accepted the food and calmed down a little. Even so, it had not fully stopped whimpering just yet. Despite the progress, Loreta still felt worried about the dog.

Mystery Dog

None of them knew anything else about the German Shepherd mix. They could only guess how she was going to react next. She seemed terrified, so it was possible that she was going to attack them. The pair had to be careful as they continued the rescue. Neither Eldad nor Loreta wanted to get bitten, after all.

Taking Baby Steps

Loreta needed to muster all the bravery and patience in her body if she wanted the mission to be a success. Another thing that made the situation more complicated was the fact that the dog was rather huge. It could mean bad things if she decided to attack the rescuers, which was possible at any moment.

Capturing

How could they help the hound without risking their safety? This was their concern at the time. It was a good thing that they had a tool that could help them with this. Animal rescue organizations use a long rope with a hole at one end. It was like a lasso that would go around the head of the stray.

Attack Mode

Dogs are known to attack humans when they feel threatened. They might show aggression when they are scared and believe that they are in danger. This happens in the name of self-defense. The rescuers were aware of this. They did not know the dog, so it was better to be prepared for this sort of thing.

Bribery

Loreta came prepared with a cheeseburger. It was supposed to act as a bait so that they could lure in the dog. think of fishermen who use worms when they go fishing. However, they did not know if this was going to be effective. The only way to find that out would be to go ahead and do it!

Not Interested In Her Cheeseburger

They found it strange that the scared dog did not express any interest in the food. Instead, she simply went back to her spot beneath the van. Why were they so puzzled by this? Well, this plan typically worked. After all, many strays are hungry and would do anything for food.

Scared & Wary

Loreta was shocked to see that her plan did not work on this dog. The rescuers knew that the only reason she refused the food was that she was scared. This probably meant that she was truly terrified of people. Otherwise, she would have gone on and taken a bite out of it at the very least.

Much Longer Than They Expected

Things would have been a lot less complicated if the dog was not that scared of them. Had she been more trusting, they would have been over and done with the mission already. Loreta and Eldad knew that they had to go about it differently. However, they did not consider using force at all.

Trying To Help

They decided to try using the tool on the poor hound. How was she going to react once the lasso was around her neck? Eldad and Loreta had no way of knowing until they tried it out. Considering how scared the dog was of them, they knew that things might get ugly. Even so, they had no other choice.

She Ran

Once the tool was wrapped around her neck, the dog freaked out some more. It was important to avoid spooking the dog even more. After all, it was already very scared of people. This was why Loreta decided to eventually take off the lasso. But how on earth were they going to help her out now?

Looking For A Safe Spot

The German Shepherd mix retreated to a spot behind the van. She probably assumed that she was going to be safe between the buildings behind the vehicle. It was a good thing that they had other tools with them. Eldad took out a net that would prevent her from getting out of their sight.

Bringing Her To Safety

They knew that the dog was not going to stay in her spot forever. Eldad and Loreta wanted to be prepared for any and all possibilities. But how long was it going to take? They did not know the answer to that, so they emptied the rest of their schedule. If they needed to wait, then so be it.

There For The Long Run

Eldad stayed waiting by one of the exits. His partner, on the other, guarded the other one. He also made sure to catch the entire encounter on video. It showed them as they tried to coax the dog out of her spot. We are glad that they did not mind waiting for the German Shepherd mix to come out of there.

She Continued To Whine And Cry

The dog kept whining for quite some time. However, it looked like she finally listened to Loreta as she coaxed her out of hiding. Eventually, the dog started to consider this. This must have been a relief to everyone involved in the rescue. After all, the rescuers had been very worried when they heard her crying and whining.

Getting Calm

The poor dog kept her ears down. This only made her look even more scared of the entire situation. The rescuers did not mind giving her some time to relax. By the end of this, she seemed to have calmed down. At the very least, she did not look as terrified as she did when they first found her.

Cowering

As soon as she had calmed down, Loreta placed the snare around her neck. The dog still looked nervous and jittery, but the important thing was that she was cooperating with them. It was a good thing that they had been willing to wait. By then, they just wanted to bring the German Shepherd mix to the vet.

Coaxed Out

Loreta and Eldad managed to coax her out of her hiding spot. They did this in a slow and gentle manner so that she could feel more at ease. The pair had been thrilled to see the dog moving no matter how slowly it went. They remained patient and allowed her to take her time if that was what she needed.

Encouraging Her

Loreta and Eldad wanted her to feel safe. This was why they gave her more words of encouragement as they patiently waited for the dog to come out of her hiding spot. They knew that animals can be fragile, especially when they have experienced a traumatic experience. It was important for them to stay gentle.

Coaxing Her Out Of There

Aside from that, they found the perfect name for her. Loreta and Eldad called her Rain since it had been a rainy morning that day. The whole time, she walked with her tail hanging between her legs. Even though she was not very comfortable yet, they were glad that things were moving along.

Tucked Tail

After some time, Rain finally stopped hiding beneath the van. Even so, Loreta and Eldad could see that she still felt scared. For one thing, her tail remained beneath her legs. As if this was not enough evidence, she also would not stop shaking and crying. They knew that she was still as scared as ever.

Finally Making Progress

For the sake of their safety, Eldad added one more leash around Rain’s neck. He also tried to pet her, hoping that this would be enough to reassure her that it was fine. The dog gave into his strokes. His plan worked! This was how they were able to bring her inside the cage.

Still Afraid

They might have been taking their sweet time, but Rain was still unsettled and terrified. Every now and then, Eldad and Loreta would assume that she was already doing better. All of a sudden, she would go on to prove them wrong by yelping in terror and running away again. She would not stop crying either.

Apprehensive

Rain eventually warmed up to them enough to let Eldad pet her gently. They were thrilled to see this because it was a huge step for the stray dog. The German Shepherd mix still appeared apprehensive and hesitant, but she let the rescuers bring her to the car. Things were finally looking up for all of them.

Uneasy

Rain was slow to walk up to the car, but the rescuers had just been glad that she was going along with it. They knew that she still felt uneasy because of the body language that she was using. The poor dog would yell and act all jumpy even until that point. She probably thought that they would harm her.

Reluctant

After all their patience and hard work, Rain was finally in the cage! But what was their plan now that she was cooperating with them? The rescuers wanted to take her to the vet to see if she had any injuries that they could not see. On top of that, the poor dog was in dire need of a good bath.

Seeing A Friendly Face

Let us not forget about the person who felt concerned enough to get in touch with Hope for Paws. Carey Linnell saw Rain and got worried about her condition. She was also there as the rescuers tried to bring rain into the car. She held the cage door open for Rain, who slid straight into her arms upon seeing her!

Familiar Face

Rain trusted this kind woman. That much was obvious. Aside from going up to her, she allowed Carey to stroke her fur. Loreta and Eldad had been surprised to see Rain approach the woman of her own free will. Could the dog somehow have figured out that Carey had been the one to ask for help?

Help However They Could

It seemed like Rain was trying to show Carey how grateful she was for all the help. Loreta and Eldad could not help but smile at the sight that unfolded right before their eyes. They knew that all their hard work had been worth it. Luckily, they had a lot of patience and succeeded when it came to task of making Rain come out.

They Couldn’t Believe it

Rain just wanted to know that she was going to be safe. After that touching moment with Carey, she showed the rescuers by walking into the cage on her own. This was a great deal of progress. Was this really the same terrified creature that they had been dealing with only minutes before that?

Getting In The Cage

Rain shocked them by heading inside the cage. It was hard to believe this since they had to wait for such a long time before she would even come out of her hiding spot beneath the van. The dog also looked a lot comfier there! They had no idea what made her do such a thing, but they were glad to see all the progress she made.

Checking It Out

All they knew was that she seemed to be comforted by the sight of Carey. It was either that or she wanted to try out the pillows at the bottom of the cage. Regardless, it made things easier for Loreta and Eldad. They watched the German Shepherd mix sniff around and check out the cage

Calm

As soon as she settled down in the cage, she looked calmer than they had ever seen that day. The poor dog was no longer crying at the very least. Loreta and Eldad were impressed by the difference in her disposition. It was a good thing that she was no longer as terrified as she had been earlier.

Almost Happy

Not only did she calm down, but Rain was also smiling slightly and wagging her tail. Somehow, she seemed to understand that there was no need to worry at all. Despite this, Eldad and Loreta still felt concerned. What could have happened to the poor dog in the past? Why was she so scared of humans?

Curious

AS soon as Rain was inside the car, she appeared even more curious. The German Shepherd mix started to explore the entrapment and figure out what was going on. She seemed very calm and at peace by then. It looked like she finally understood that Eldad and Loreta did not plan to hurt her in any way.

Rain Got A Burger And A Bath

In the cage, she got to finally eat the cheeseburger! Loreta and Eldad also noticed that she was wagging her tail out of satisfaction. Now that she felt safe, it was time for them to bring her to the vet’s clinic. Over there, she got to spend a day at the doggy spa and enjoy cuddles from her rescuers.

Becoming A New Dog

After the tests and grooming session, Rain was off to a fresh new start. It goes without saying that she also deserved a shot at happiness. They did not know what she went through, but they wanted her to find her forever home. The Hope for Paws team was more than excited to make that happen.

She Enjoyed The Attention

It was hard to imagine that this was the same fearful dog as earlier. After she received cuddles and a bath, she seemed like a new dog. As you can see, all it took was to display warmth and affection towards her. Rain finally realized that Eldad and Loreta did not plan to make her suffer.

A New Dog

They could tell that it was the first time that she underwent a spa treatment. Rain was clearly savoring every second of it. The suds went down her face as she enjoyed the warm water. The “masseuse” handled her with a lot of care as well. Once it was over, little Rain was happy as a clam.

Re-Learning The Ropes

Eldad and Loreta could see that Rain used to be a pet. She might not have a chip or a collar, but they could figure it out from her personality and actions. Even though they found her as a stray, it was clear that there was a time when she was under the wing of a family.

Getting Used To TLC

After living on the streets, Rain was no longer used to having someone take care of her needs. She had to go through a readjustment phase when it came to this. If she had been a stray all her life, there was no way that she would have been trusting and happy after only a couple of hours.

Cozying Up

After Rain was done with her bath, she wanted to partake in a cuddle session! It was a good thing that Loreta was there to make her wish come true. She looked and acted so differently from the terrified creature that they met at the parking lot. Eldad and Loreta were surprised by how sweet she was.

Transformed

Rain managed to relax and adjust after a couple of hours in their care. You would never have guessed that she had been crying and hiding under a van earlier that day! After a cheeseburger, a bath, and cuddles, she was doing better than ever. Loreta was thrilled to see that she was a sweet dog by nature.

New Starts For Rain

However, this was not the best part of the story just yet. Things did not end for her once they cleaned her up and gave her some cuddles. After this, it was time for Hope for Paws to find someone suitable to bring her home. Did they manage to find someone who fit the bill?

A Happy And Loving Dog

The people at the rescue center got to know Rain some more in the days that came after that. She was such a sweet dog that it was not hard for her to win the rest of the team over. Everyone was shocked that this was the same dog that gave Loreta and Eldad such a hard time.

Happy Rain

Among other things, she delighted others with a certain trick that she would pull off. This was something that she did when she wanted ear scratches and belly rubs. She would shake your hand and hope for the best! Rain looked very happy and content. Sadly, it was not possible for her to stay at the center forever.

A Different Rescuer Fell In Love With Her

The new development happened two weeks after her rescue. Loreta came to the animal center with a fellow animal rescuer. Her name was Allison Dunbar. Once they reached the Hope for Paws facility, she fell in love with the German Shepherd mix in no time at all! Well, we can see why.

A Perfect Opportunity

Is there anything better than being adopted by an animal rescuer? There is no doubt in our mind that Allison was going to do everything possible to keep Rain happy. She was practically an authority at caring for animals thanks to her job. This might even be the best possible thing to ever happen to Rain.

Trial Run

Allison was already the proud momma of one. She had a different dog at home, so she first had to test waters. After all, it would be extremely difficult for everyone involved if her pet did not get along with Rain. And so she gave it a test run. She took her dog to meet Rain. Luckily, things worked out in the end.

She Fit Right In

Once she welcomed Rain into her own home, Allison made sure to give her the same treatment that she gave Ernie. Her older dog worked hard to ensure that the newest addition to the family would feel right at home. After seeing how well they got along, their mother felt happy that it was all going well.

Her New Home

Allison had been the person to grant Rain a forever home. When the German Shepherd mix joined her household, she also gained a new brother and friend. It was a delight to see that she and Ernie were getting along like a house on fire. Allison eventually decided that it was time to give Rain a better name.

Now Sassy Pants Dunbar

Allison would describe Rain as a bright and happy dog that had a strong personality. This explains the new name that she chose for the dog. She would no longer be known as Rain but as Sassy Pants Dunbar instead! This name described her down to a tee. It was a name that suited someone like her.

Exploring

Once Sassy Pants made it to her new home, she could not wait to explore the place. She would run around all day and sniffed everything that she could. Allison was glad to see how happy her new daughter was. She was more than glad to start a new chapter of her life with the German Shepherd mix.

Sassy Pants

She took to Instagram to introduce the new member of the family. The caption on the photo read, “Introducing……Sassy Pants Dunbar. Rescued off the streets of South Central by @hopeforpawsrescue. (They called her Rain b/c they found her crying in the rain). Heartbreaking backstory for this senior girl. But I’m gonna make it all up to her.”

Her Life Was Changed

In the end, Sassy Pants went on to change everything for Allison. However, the reverse is true as well! Only a couple of weeks before the adoption, the dog had been scared of humans and was living on the streets. It was a good thing that the two of them met and changed each other’s life for the better.

Spending Some Time Together

Fortunately, Sassy Pants did not have a hard time integrating into the family. Ernie was always there to guide her no matter what. The two of them enjoyed spending time and playing games together. She used to be a fearful dog, but she was now displaying an incredible amount of energy and enthusiasm.

Ernie And Sassy

We are not surprised to hear that the story went viral. This means that Sassy Pants is now an internet-famous dog! As a member of the Dunbar household, she is much happier now. She and Ernie share a very strong bond. Apart from playing together, she enjoys nuzzling against him and resting with him.

Sassy Pants Is Funny

Allison believes that Sassy Pants is one of the greatest cuddlers she knows. Aside from that, she loves just how silly the dog is. Not a day has gone by in which Sassy Pants has failed to make her laugh. One of her favorite moments involves finding Sassy Pants in the shower! Isn’t this the most ridiculous and cutest photo ever?

Playtime

Sassy Pants really likes playtime as well. You see, she is basically a big goofball who likes to mess around with her family. She would be happy doing nothing but rolling around the carpet! Allison was delighted to see how silly this dog was. Once she felt comfy in the house, she got up to all kinds of antics.

No Longer Scared

When Eldad and Loreta first met the German Shepherd mix, they felt a lot of concern. After all, she had been so scared and wary of every single thing. It was a good thing that this was no longer the case. Things were already so different even though it had only been a matter of weeks!

Handshake

Sassy Pants is also a smart little girl. She likes to shake hands with people! Aside from that, she is a sucker for pets and belly rubs. When she needs more affection, she would pull off the handshake trick. This usually works. As you can see, she is willing to do anything to get her way. Isn’t that admirable?

Full Of Love

She likes to receive affection, but this dog also displays love towards the people that she meets. Sassy Pants has no problems giving others kisses and cuddles. What a sweet little dog! She has a lot of love to give. It is a good thing that people do not mind receiving affection from her.

International Dog Day

She is an animal rescuer, so we are not shocked to hear that Allison knows of International Dog Day. On Instagram, she posted a cute photo of her with the dogs as a way to celebrate the special day. In the caption, she greeted her pals by saying, “Happy #internationaldogday from Ernest and Sassypants!”

Halloween

Take a look at what Halloween was like for the members of the Dunbar family! Here is a photo of Ernie and Sassy Pants as they celebrated the holiday in costume. Allison posted it on Instagram too. This time, the caption said, “Sassy And Ernie Are Serious About Halloween.” This is such a great photo of them!

Roadtrip

Ernie and Allison made Sassy Pants feel right at home from the very beginning. They were all thrilled to start living together. Allison expressed her feelings on Instagram by explaining, “Sassy Pants was a severely abused senior when we adopted her 3 months ago. She hid the first week we brought her home. But now she knows that life can be FUN and there are good people everywhere!”

L.O.V.E.

We are not surprised to hear that Sassy Pants could charm anyone. She made it look so easy! “I brought these jokers on a bank errand today and Sassy even walked up to a stranger for pats. All it took was LOVE ( and Ernie showing her the ropes),” Allison once explained. Isn’t that the most amazing thing?

Warm Welcome

When Allison had plenty of work to do, it got harder to look after Sassy Pants and Ernie on her own. This was the reason she asked the help of a dog-walking company known as the Dog Walking & Pet Sitting company. The two dogs managed to get a sufficient amount of exercise thanks to this. “A Big Welcome To Ernie The Noodle And Sassy Pants… Our Two New Wigglebutts,” said the company.

Sassy Pants Isn’t Alone

Isn’t it amazing to see how far Sassy Pants has gone? She used to live on the streets and distrust every single person who came her way. Things have changed so much for her! We hope that you will try to do the same thing that Eldad, Loreta, and Carey did for Sassy Pants if something like that happens to you.

Help Where You Can

There are so many things you can do to help! Hope for Paws managed to give Sassy Pants a brighter future, but you can do the same thing for other strays. Even the little things add up. On top of that, you should not limit your kindness and generosity to dogs! Let us help our fellow humans when we can.

Changing A Life

In the end, it boils down to a couple of things. Animals and humans alike both flourish when they receive help, trust, and love. Sassy Pants Dunbar would not have gotten a happy ending if this did not happen to her. While she had been full of sadness and fear at first, it all changed for her after meeting kind people.

What Is Hope For Paws?

Audrey and Eldad Hagar founded Hope for Paws in Los Angeles, California. This happened all the way back in 2008. The non-profit animal rescue group has done a lot of things for the stray animals in the area. Every single day, the team helps animals in danger or in need. Sassy Pants was merely one of the many creatures that they have helped! The world is a better place thanks to people like Eldad, Audrey, and Loreta.