A Colorado couple’s vacation in San Francisco took an unexpected turn when they encountered a terrified puppy who had clearly endured serious abuse. That moment not only changed the pup’s future, but it also brought her into a family who refused to leave her behind.
Lina Robles and her partner, Allison Lopez Bock, were returning to their Airbnb after a concert when they saw a small figure sprinting toward them. At first, they thought a large dog was charging. Instead, a young Lab mix stumbled into the light, revealing duct tape wrapped around her mouth and eyes, and a rope embedded tightly around her neck.
“It was horrific. I was shocked, I was appalled and also just really worried about her,” Lopez Bock told CBS Colorado. Robles said the puppy pressed herself between her legs, whimpering and unable to see or breathe properly. The women carefully cut the tape away, and she let out a sharp cry when it came off.
Inside their rental, they removed the rope, cleaned her wounds, and offered food and water. Despite everything she had suffered, the puppy responded immediately with gentle licks. They named her Brazen, a nod to her surprising strength.
The next morning, they brought her to San Francisco Animal Care and Control before flying home. They expected that to be the end of their role in her story. However, when the shelter later called to say they were running out of space, both women felt compelled to act. They flew back to California that same day and officially adopted her.
“It was incredible. Her excitement was off the charts,” Lopez Bock said of the reunion. Brazen leapt into their arms with unmistakable recognition and relief.
Back in Colorado, Brazen settled into her new life quickly. She explored her yard, took her first hike, and soaked up fall weather as if she had always belonged there. The couple said they cannot imagine life without her now.
Social media users have rallied around Brazen as well. After the women posted her story online, support poured in through messages and donations, with people even offering toys for her new home. Robles said the kindness has been overwhelming and has ensured Brazen is “set for life.”
A scar on her neck remains from the rope that had been tied so tightly it caused a serious infection. Lopez Bock said thinking about what she endured is still painful. San Francisco Animal Care and Control confirmed they treated her wounds, but have no leads on who harmed her. With no microchip and no surveillance footage, the case is not under investigation.
Robles worries Brazen may not have been the only puppy mistreated, but she hopes her rescue will encourage people to look out for vulnerable animals. Lopez Bock echoed that sentiment, urging anyone able to foster or adopt to consider it.
Today, Brazen is safe, loved, and learning the world anew in Colorado, far from the dangers she once faced on a San Francisco street. Click play below to experience Brazen’s life-changing rescue.
Colorado couple finds and adopts abused puppy who had duct tape around mouth, say they were “appalled” https://t.co/JTY0UZxz75
— CBSColorado (@CBSNewsColorado) September 30, 2025