When Suzette Hall learned about a small puppy left tied to a fire hydrant in a Southern California neighborhood, the news was upsetting but not shocking. Hall, the founder of Logan’s Legacy dog rescue, had already helped several abandoned dogs from the same street in recent weeks. This puppy was yet another left behind.
According to the person who reported the situation, the dog’s former owners had placed a container of food and water beside her before walking away. The food remained untouched. The puppy stayed curled into a tight ball near the hydrant, rarely moving and clearly overwhelmed.
Hall wanted to respond immediately, but she was unable to reach the location in time. Instead, she contacted someone she knew who lived nearby and asked for help.
“I called this woman I know who lives right by there and asked her to please go get the pup,” Hall told The Dodo.
The neighbor dropped what she was doing and went straight to the corner where the dog had been reported. She found an 8-month-old puppy tied to the hydrant. The dog, later named Cici, had become tangled in her own leash.
“She was just twisting and twisting around that hydrant with her leash,” Hall said. “The poor dog was all tied up.”
As the woman approached to help, Cici reacted with fear. She growled while the leash was being untangled, unsure of what was happening or who to trust. Hall stayed on the phone during the rescue, offering guidance and reassurance. With patience and calm movements, the woman was able to free the dog.
Once Cici was untangled, the woman wrapped her in a soft blanket and held her briefly before placing her in the car. They immediately headed to Camino Pet Hospital. During the drive, Cici’s condition worsened.
“She got so sick in the car,” Hall said. “We think it was from fear and lack of food and water since she was too scared to eat the food they’d left.”
The timing proved critical. By the time Cici arrived at the hospital, she needed immediate care. The veterinary team gave her fluids and monitored her closely. After some time and steady attention, her condition improved.
“They monitored her, then, all of a sudden, she was fine,” Hall said. “She finally started perking up.”
As Cici recovered, she began to relax and show more of her personality. While she made friends with many staff members at the hospital, one person stood out. Cici quickly bonded with Hedy Herold, the office manager at Camino Pet Hospital.
“Whenever Hedy walks by her, Cici starts wiggling her tail,” Hall said. “She gets so excited because she knows it’s Hedy.”
Since arriving at the clinic, Cici has spent much of her time curled up in Hedy’s arms, enjoying the attention and comfort she had been missing. After being medically cleared, she was approved to move into foster care and is expected to leave the hospital soon.
While Cici is looking forward to her temporary home, she is still waiting for a permanent one. Hall says she is confident the right family will come along.
“She’s just so happy,” Hall said. “She’s as sweet as can be.”
Hall later shared in an update: “More good news. Remember this sweet baby girl, who had been abandoned, tied to a fire hydrant? We named her Cici 💗💗💗 Well, she has been adopted. Her mama Rose started as her foster and couldn’t let her go. She fell in love and foster failed 💗 Cici couldn’t be in better hands. She is so loved 🥰 Getting spoiled rotten. She is such a miracle. And she will have the most amazing life.”