Viva was abandoned in L.A. and made a home for herself on the streets, near an airport. She often slept in parking garages and ate from garbages. Finally, someone who spotted the dog called Hope For Paws and asked if they would come out and try to rescue her.
Lisa Arturo and JoAnn Wiltz went looking for Viva and found her hiding in some grass, scared of anyone who approached her. They tried walking over to her, slowly, hoping they could gain her trust.
But she was too scared and took off into the street. Lisa and JoAnn were scared for Viva, there were cars driving around and because she was so small, it was likely she would get hit.
So they decided to keep their distance rather than risk her life further. It broke their hearts that they couldn’t just grab Viva and bring her to safety.
Desperate, the women looked everywhere for a spot to set up a humane trap. While they walked around the neighborhood, they came across a parking garage where the attendants knew the dog. The employees said that Viva often slept in a specific spot. The women set the trap up there then stayed far enough away so Viva didn’t get spooked again. They waited and waited…
Finally, the parking garage employees came to find the rescuers to tell them that the trap had worked! After four long days, Viva was finally safe. Not happy, but safe.
As Lisa and JoAnn approached, they could see that Viva was cross-eyed and had a significant underbite and snaggle tooth. She was also very sweet. Her unique look made her rescuers love her even more!
Viva was wearing a collar so the rescuers thought it was entirely possible that she was actually a runaway. They scanned her for a chip and sure enough, Viva had a home!
But then Lisa and JoAnn got some devastating news when they called Viva’s owners. Viva’s family didn’t want her anymore. It was likely she had been dumped on purpose. How heartless could people be?!
Viva’s rescuers took her to the vet and then transferred her to Foxy and the Hounds Rescue.
Viva is now living with a foster family who says she is incredibly sweet, happy and playful. Everyone who meets Viva is stunned that her former family didn’t want her anymore. But it’s their loss! Not Viva’s!
Her foster family is sure she will find a forever home very soon where she will NEVER feel unloved or unwanted again.
See Viva’s entire rescue in the video below!
