As an avid dog lover and dedicated volunteer rescuer, Rosario Ortiz always has her eyes open for stray pups in need of help. She’s no stranger to finding dogs in difficult or dangerous situations, but one recent rescue in her Los Angeles, California, neighborhood touched her heart in a way she hadn’t anticipated.
Just off the train tracks, Rosario spotted a fluffy, off-white Pomeranian, curled up as if the railroad had become his home. With no shelter other than an industrial storage container, the tracks were his territory, and the cold steel container his bed.
"Thank goodness Rosario noticed him, so small and huddled beneath that container," wrote Suzette Hall, founder of Logan’s Legacy 29, on Facebook.
Immediately, Rosario called for backup, and Hall, an experienced rescuer, rushed to the scene. Over an hour later, when Hall finally arrived at the tracks, the little Pomeranian was still lying exactly where Rosario had first found him, curled up in a tight ball under the container.
“He hadn’t moved an inch. He was still asleep, completely unaware of the world around him,” Hall recounted.
Hall wasted no time setting a humane trap with warm food to lure the pup out, then hid nearby, hoping the enticing scent would coax him to safety. Her plan seemed to be working as the dog slowly wriggled out from under the container and approached the trap, his nose leading the way. Just as he was about to step inside, the sound of an approaching passerby startled him, and in an instant, the frightened pup bolted.
“A woman accidentally scared him, and he took off running down the tracks,” Hall shared. “Our hearts were in our throats — it was terrifying to see him sprinting along the dangerous rails.”
Without hesitation, Hall and Rosario sprang into action. They jumped into their cars and began following the fleeing dog, racing to keep him in sight. After a tense chase, they managed to corner him in a fenced-in area, blocking the only exit with baby gates.
Slowly and carefully, the two rescuers approached the frightened pup. Moments later, Rosario gently scooped the dog into her arms, and the pair shared a quiet, triumphant moment, knowing they had saved his life.
When Hall loaded the pup, now named Marshmallow, into her car, the little dog seemed to understand he was finally safe.
“The best part was when he realized he was rescued,” Hall wrote. “He was so relieved, he could hardly keep his eyes open. He curled up in the back of the car and drifted into the deepest sleep. He never had to live on those tracks again.”
Hall took Marshmallow to Camino Pet Hospital, where the little dog received a much-needed bath and a clean bill of health. Soon after, he was placed in a loving foster home where he could recover and thrive.
Since his rescue, Marshmallow’s true personality has bloomed. In the safety of his foster home, the once-nervous pup has become a joyful, affectionate dog.
“Marshmallow is the biggest cuddle bug ever,” Hall told The Dodo. “He’s so happy to be safe, and he just melts into your arms when you hold him.”
Now, Marshmallow is thriving, and though he’s still waiting for his forever home, he finally has the love, care, and safety he deserves.
