Stephanie Castillo was going about her day in Chino Hills, California, when an unexpected sight stopped her in her tracks — and broke her heart.
Outside Priceless Pet Rescue’s building sat a small cage, crammed with seven frightened dogs. Someone had abandoned them, leaving them huddled together in filthy conditions.
“My stomach immediately sank,” Stephanie told The Dodo. “I knew I had to do something — anything.”
The rescue was closed for the day, and no one was around to help. Stephanie quickly realized the dogs had likely been sitting in the cage for some time.
They were panting, covered in filth, and clearly in distress. Among them, she noticed a blind senior dog in especially poor condition.
With the temperature rising and no immediate help in sight, Stephanie called the local humane society. They told her they could come — but it might take hours. She couldn’t bear to let the dogs suffer any longer.
“It was only going to get hotter,” she said. “So I decided to take them home myself.”
One by one, she gently loaded the dogs into her car and brought them to safety. At home, she gave them food, water, and, for the first time in who knows how long, a sense of care.
“They were starving, dehydrated, and terrified,” she said. “They looked like they’d been through so much.”
Later, the humane society arrived to take over, giving the dogs the urgent veterinary care and vaccinations they needed.
From there, the pups were transferred to Priceless Pet Rescue’s Costa Mesa location — a new chapter at last beginning.
You can watch their full rescue journey here:
The rescue lovingly named them Hal, Reese, Dewey, Francis, Malcolm, Lois, and Rudy — a nod to the family from Malcolm in the Middle — and put them up for adoption.
“These dogs have endured uncertainty,” the rescue shared on their website. “But their spirit remains unbroken.”
Two of the dogs have already found forever homes. And while five still wait, there’s no doubt that loving families are out there for them too.
“They truly deserve the world,” Stephanie said. “With a little love and attention, they’ll thrive.”
If you’re interested in adopting one of these sweet survivors, just search their names on the Priceless Pet Rescue adoptable dogs page.
