Last month, Suzette Hall, founder of Logan’s Legacy 29, received a message that immediately tugged at her heart. While she’s responded to countless calls for help rescuing stray dogs around Los Angeles, this one was different. Instead of wandering aimlessly, this poor pup went door-to-door, gazing into people's yards, hoping someone would feed her.
"For over a month, she begged for food, peeking through gates," Hall shared on Facebook.
When Hall saw a picture of the dog, later named Makena, staring longingly through a gate, she knew she had to act. She called her friend and fellow volunteer, Mary Nakiso, and they rushed to the last known location where Makena was seen.
When Hall and Nakiso arrived, they quickly spotted the dog and began the delicate task of trying to trap her. Hours passed, and they were so close to success. But just as Makena was about to step into the trap, an angry neighbor stormed over and kicked the trap away, causing the frightened pup to bolt.
“We were there for five hours, and she was just about to enter my trap when the neighbor ruined it all,” Hall explained.
Makena disappeared into the night, far away from the area where she’d been surviving for weeks. Feeling defeated, Hall and Nakiso decided to call it a night, but they promised to return the next day.
Fortunately, it didn’t take long for Makena to reappear. The next morning, she showed up at the home of a kind neighbor named Janet, who had been leaving food and water out for her.
"Janet was giving her a bowl of food every day, and Makena came to rely on that,” Hall wrote. Then, one evening, Janet called Hall with exciting news: “She’s following me and my dog everywhere!”
Recognizing a new opportunity, Hall knew this was their best chance to save Makena.
“I thought, ‘This is it. Normally, she would run like lightning if anyone came near, but tonight feels different.’”
Hall rushed over to Janet's house and coordinated with a next-door neighbor to use his yard for the rescue. Makena, feeling more comfortable around Janet, followed her right into the neighbor’s yard. They had set up a trap, but to their surprise, it wasn’t needed.
“We managed to corner her, and the kind neighbor simply picked her up,” Hall recalled. “I cried tears of joy the entire drive back.”
Finally, after countless hours of failed attempts, Makena was safe. As Hall drove her to the vet, Makena curled up in a crate to rest. But before long, Hall pulled over and moved Makena to the front seat, where the dog snuggled into a blanket, peeking her nose out in the sweetest way.
"She nestled into the blanket on the seat, and I could see her little nose poking out," Hall said. "Her month of wandering was over, and she knew it."
Overwhelmed with emotion, Hall drove Makena to Camino Pet Hospital, where the pup received a full checkup and a much-needed bath. Miraculously, despite her ordeal, Makena was healthy and ready for foster care.
Since then, Makena has been thriving in her foster home, enjoying the love and comfort of a family. Though she’s still waiting for her forever home, this sweet girl is finally able to rest.
"Makena is such a love," Hall told. "Now, after everything, she can finally sleep peacefully, closing both eyes after being homeless for so long."
