Hogan’s spirit was breaking. Trapped in a California shelter and facing the threat of euthanasia, the gentle dog curled into a corner of his kennel, trembling and crying — as if he knew his time was running out.
But just when things seemed darkest, hope arrived.
The team at Ozzie and Friends Rescue heard about Hogan’s situation and rushed to save him. They pulled him from the shelter in the nick of time. As soon as Hogan realized he was safe, everything changed.
During the ride away from the shelter, his tears gave way to tail wags and happy licks — pure joy radiating from the dog who’d nearly lost it all.
Hogan was finally free. But his journey wasn’t over.
For the next three years, Hogan waited patiently at the rescue for someone to choose him. He was active, loving, and full of personality, but his discomfort around other animals made finding a match difficult. Again and again, potential adopters passed him by.
Then, in 2021, Hogan was placed with foster mom Evelyn Perez-Benitez. It was supposed to be temporary — but the moment she met him, everything changed.
“I absolutely fell in love with him,” Perez-Benitez told The Dodo.
And Hogan felt the same. Gone were the days of pacing a lonely kennel. Now, he was swimming, hiking, and enjoying every moment of his new life. But most importantly, he was finally loved — unconditionally.
Perez-Benitez says being Hogan’s mom has taught her so much — especially about the unfair stigma pit bulls face in shelters. They're often mislabeled as aggressive and passed over because of it.
But Hogan is proof that what these dogs need most is simply a chance.
“I do everything I can for him,” she said. “I want to give him the best life possible because he is my family.”
Hogan may have once been forgotten, but now, he’s the center of someone’s world — and that has made all the difference.
Want to help dogs like Hogan?
You can make a donation to Ozzie and Friends Rescue to support their life-saving work.
