After a small Chihuahua mix – later named Viva – was deserted on the roads of Los Angeles, she discovered refuge nearby LAX airport.
Separated from her family, those she cherished deeply, and lacking food and water, she anxiously wandered the vicinity, yearning to survive somehow.
It wasn’t until a person contacted the rescue group, Hope For Paws, that her fortunes finally shifted.
Rescuing Little Viva
The moment Hope For Paws received a notification regarding a small dog near the airport, the two rescuers (Lisa Arturo and JoAnn Wiltz) set out to find her.
Eventually, they located her curled up in the grass, but as they approached, Viva became frightened and dashed into the road.
Viva was terrified of anyone making an attempt to come close, so they recognized that rescuing her would not be a simple task.
The rescuers then opted to establish a dog trap, but unfortunately, a passerby startled her, causing her to flee once more.
While scanning the area, the two women learned from staff at Wally’s Parking that Viva frequently hid within their premises. They dedicated several hours exploring each level of the parking structure with no success.
Four days elapsed, and the Hope For Paws rescuers were still unsuccessful in capturing her, yet they weren’t ready to quit.
Fortunately, the workers at Wally’s Parking were able to inform them where Viva typically entered and exited. In their determination to finally catch her, they set up a trap in that precise location and concealed themselves for a period.
After a few hours, Viva indeed entered the trap.
She was finally secure and safe!
Locating The Owner
Once Viva was ensnared, the rescuers quickly noticed she wore a collar.
There was no tag attached, but they presumed she could be someone’s lost animal, prompting them to explore further.
However, when they contacted Avid Identification Systems and asked about the microchip found in the dog, they received the most heartbreaking response.
“So, we do have an owner, yet it appears we attempted to reach out to them, and they indicated they no longer had this pet,” remarked an Avid representative.
When Hope For Paws inquired if they had surrendered the dog to another individual or if anyone was searching for her, the representative repeated, “No, when we contacted them, they stated that they no longer own it.”
The owner merely opted to stop owning the pet and abandoned it on the streets.
Starting A New Life
Assisted by her rescuers, little Viva bid farewell to Wally’s Parking and relocated to a significantly safer environment.
She initially went to a temporary foster home, arranged by the Los Angeles rescue organization, Foxy and the Hounds, to relax. Once she ultimately felt secure, Viva evolved into a joyous and lively pup.
“We are absolutely smitten with this cross-eyed, charming underbite, snaggletoothed girl who is the cutest little hot mess you will ever encounter. Viva is a 2-year-old, female Chihuahua mix, possibly with Min Pin? She is incredibly affectionate, tremendously amusing, and irresistibly happy, and you will certainly fall in love with her,” Foxy and the Hounds shared on their Facebook post.
Fortunately, it didn’t take long for Viva to discover the ideal forever home.
Her new family discovered the post on Facebook, and they promptly realized they must come and adopt her.
They were precisely the family Viva had been awaiting.
“Viva adores children and dashed around their home before beginning a delightful game of chase… She was pursuing them through the yard, and then they were pursuing her, and Viva was experiencing the time of her life.”
Everyone was overjoyed that this charming little dog ultimately encountered the perfect family that would never desert her as her previous owner did.
“Thank you, Robert Gomez, and your wonderful family for welcoming your home and your hearts to sweet Viva. We were just so thrilled for her, and our hearts are fulfilled, knowing Viva will enjoy a lifetime filled with affection, children to play with, and a family to call her own,” the rescue conveyed in their post.
Enjoy your new life, sweet little girl!