A Colorado couple’s vacation in San Francisco took a heartwarming turn when they stumbled upon a puppy in dire need of rescue. The couple, Lina Robles and Allison Lopez-Bock, discovered the puppy, whom they named Brazen, in a horrific state, reflecting serious abuse.
Returning to their Airbnb after an evening concert, the women saw a flash of black fur rushing toward them. Initially, they feared a dangerous encounter, believing they were about to be mauled. However, upon closer inspection, they found it was a frightened puppy, with duct tape restraining her mouth and eyes and a rope cruelly wrapped around her neck.
The shocking scene left both women appalled and deeply concerned for the puppy’s well-being. Robles recalled the distressing moment, stating, “It was horrific. I mean, I was shocked, I was appalled and also just really worried about her.”
Seeing the cowering puppy, who was whimpering and seeking comfort between their legs, spurred immediate action. The compassionate women carefully removed the tape, eliciting a painful cry from the puppy as they did so. After bringing her inside, they cut away the rope and offered her food and water, to which she responded by licking them affectionately.
The following morning, the couple took Brazen to a local shelter before returning home to Colorado. At that point, they thought they were saying goodbye to her forever. However, thoughts of the four-and-a-half-month-old lab stayed with them.
When the shelter contacted them to express that they were running out of space and needed to find homes for the dogs, the couple felt compelled to act. Lopez-Bock stated, “We felt like it was meant to be,” and without hesitation, they quickly traveled back to California to adopt Brazen themselves.
Their reunion was filled with joy as Brazen’s excitement was palpable upon seeing her rescuers again. “Her excitement was off the charts when we first saw her. She was very excited, jumping all over us. It was really sweet. Really cuddly, puppy loving. It was so sweet,” Lopez-Bock said.
Since bringing Brazen home to Colorado, Robles and Lopez-Bock have shared her inspiring story on social media. The response has been overwhelmingly positive, with many people reaching out to offer support. “Just the outpouring of support and kind messages, donations, like, even just like people offering to donate their dogs’ old toys to us. It’s just been really moving. I think she’s set for life. She has so much support now,” Robles shared.
Adapting to her new life in Colorado, Brazen has quickly settled in. Robles recounted, “We went on our first hike this weekend. Took it in the fall foliage. And she had a great time. We’re loving having her here. And now that we have her, we can’t picture it any other way.”
Yet, the evidence of Brazen’s traumatic past remains with her. A distinct scar on her neck serves as a poignant reminder of her previous abuse; the rope had been tied so tightly that it caused significant laceration and infection. Lopez-Bock expressed her heartache, stating, “I was bawling, like crying so hard, thinking about someone doing that to her and the audacity that anybody has to treat pets that way. It’s so cruel.”
San Francisco Animal Care & Control took Brazen in on September 7, where they treated her wounds. They noted that the puppy did not have a microchip, and without any surveillance cameras in the vicinity of where she was found, there are currently no leads on her abuser. Authorities confirmed that there is no active investigation.
Robles voiced her concerns regarding the abuse, wondering if Brazen might have siblings that were still suffering. “I worry that she has a whole litter of puppies that are out there being still abused. So that’s a really big concern of mine,” she said.
The couple hopes that Brazen’s harrowing story will inspire others to take better care of animals and advocate for their protection. “If you have the ability and the time to spend some time with dogs or even better foster dogs, adopt a dog, that would probably be my biggest message,” Robles urged.
As Brazen continues to recover and thrive in her new home, her story serves as a beacon of hope for all rescue animals and as a call to take action against animal cruelty.
image source from：kcra
