In Yavapai County, Arizona, the vast Sonoran desert stretches endlessly across the landscape — a place where even during the cooler fall months, temperatures can soar into the 90s.
It’s not a place where anyone expects to find abandoned pets.
But a few weeks ago, while scouting the area, an outdoorsman noticed something that made him stop in his tracks.
Far ahead, two fluffy brown dogs were sitting in the open desert — tethered to an overturned bicycle, with no food, no water and no shade.
He was stunned.
“[He] was concerned for the dogs’ wellbeing,” a representative from the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office (YCSO) told The Dodo. “He wasn’t sure how long they had been out there unattended.”
The Good Samaritan immediately called YCSO. Two deputies arrived soon after, and what they found left them just as shocked.
“[Two] beautiful pups were abandoned,” YCSO wrote in a Facebook post.
Understandably frightened, the dogs barked nervously as the officers approached. The deputies gave them space, speaking softly and tossing treats in hopes of earning their trust.
After a few patient minutes, the pups began to relax. The officers then gently secured them with a rescue pole, cut them free from the bike and helped them into their patrol vehicle.
At last, the desert ordeal was over.
The pups were transported to a nearby humane society, where staff immediately provided food, fresh water and a quiet place to decompress.
Safe and cared for, the dogs are now getting everything they need — and their future looks far brighter than the harsh desert they were left in.
