It was supposed to be a normal fall afternoon in Chino Hills, California, when Stephanie Castillo went out to run a few errands. But everything changed in an instant.
Out of the corner of her eye, Stephanie spotted something on the sidewalk that made her heart drop.
“My stomach immediately sank,” she told The Dodo. “I knew I had to do something, anything.”
A blind senior dog
There, sitting beside the road, was a small metal crate. Crammed inside were seven dogs, panting heavily, shaking, and clearly terrified. There wasn’t a single person around — and Stephanie realized with horror that they’d been abandoned.Dog dies suddenly after common mistake.
The crate had been placed not far from Priceless Pet Rescue, a nearby animal shelter. It seemed likely someone had dumped the dogs there, hoping staff would eventually find them. But the shelter was closed for the day.
Stephanie quickly assessed the situation — the dogs were filthy, sitting in their own waste, and one of them appeared to be a blind senior dog in rough condition.
“It seemed like [they’d been] there for a while,” Stephanie said. “They were sitting in their own filth and panting… I also noticed there was a blind senior dog that was in really bad shape.”
She called her local humane society for help — but was told it could take hours for anyone to arrive. With temperatures rising fast, Stephanie knew the dogs didn’t have time to wait.
Took them home
“It would only get hotter as the day went on,” she said. “So I opted to take them in myself.”
With compassion fueling her, Stephanie carefully loaded the crate of frightened pups into her car and brought them home. Once there, she gently let them out and got to work — giving them food, water, and comfort for the first time in what seemed like days.
“They… looked like they had been through a lot,” she said.
Thankfully, shortly after they arrived at Stephanie’s house, the humane society followed through. They came to retrieve the dogs, ensuring they got the medical care, vaccinations, and attention they so badly needed.
Eventually, all seven were transferred to Priceless Pet Rescue’s Costa Mesa location, where their new journey began.
Two were adopted
Each of the dogs was given a name — Hal, Reese, Dewey, Francis, Malcolm, Lois, and Rudy — and were waiting for loving families to bring them home.
“[These dogs have] faced uncertainty, but [their] spirit remains unbroken,” the rescue wrote on their website.
Two of the dogs found their forever homes soon, and rescue workers are hopeful the remaining five will be also.
As for Stephanie, she’ll never forget the moment she found them — or the hope she saw return to their eyes.
“They truly deserve the world,” she said. “With some love and attention, they will live very happy lives.”
As for Stephanie, she’ll never forget the moment she found them — or the hope she saw return to their eyes.
Thanks to Stephanie’s quick thinking and huge heart, seven innocent dogs were saved from a truly heartbreaking situation. Her compassion turned what could have been a tragedy into a story of hope.
The world needs more people like Stephanie — people who don’t just look away, but step up and make a difference.
Thank you, Stephanie, for being a voice for the voiceless and showing these dogs the love they always deserved. 🐾❤️