When Lisa Chiarelli came across a lovely stray Pitbull amidst a junkyard in Los Angeles during a heavy downpour, she quickly pulled over and attempted to bring her into the vehicle.
Nonetheless, the pooch was frightened and disoriented, causing her to flee.
“It was vast and expansive. It was somewhat at a recycling facility, and there were numerous spots where she could conceal herself,” Lisa recounted to The Dodo.
However, even though she was unable to capture her during the initial try, Lisa was determined to persist. That sorrowful face lingered in her thoughts, so she returned for three consecutive weeks with the hope of locating and saving the unfortunate, abandoned canine.
A Three-Week Pursuit
Day after day, Lisa continued her visits to that same site, searching for the lost Pittie.
She commenced feeding her in the precise location to win her trust since the dog was very skittish.
It seems likely that someone abandoned her as she appeared well-nourished and healthy.
On the third day, Lisa returned accompanied by a friend and a dog trap, but regrettably, the trap malfunctioned and struck the dog on the back of her leg.
“I felt utterly disheartened. I just broke down in tears. After the trap incident, she became quite afraid of me and wouldn’t approach me as she had on the first day. She would merely spot my vehicle and take off,” Lisa recounted to The Dodo.
Days turned into weeks, and Lisa incessantly pondered the dog. She was resolved to persevere until she could rescue her.
She established a feeding area at the site and visited two to three times each day just to monitor her progress.
By the 18th day, she set up another trap, but this time, it was secured to a tree.
“Every day I would reposition the food bowl slightly further back towards the rear of the trap. We brought some chicken pastrami and placed food a bit around the entry, and then we put the biggest reward at the back of the trap,” Lisa explained.
After three weeks of attempts, she ultimately entered the trap, and they secured her… 21 days!
One Day At A Time
The lovely girl – subsequently named Xena – was quite anxious, yet still incredibly stunning.
They transported her to the veterinarian. Following an hour of comforting and petting her, Xena began to relax.
Each passing day, she became increasingly relaxed, progressively embracing all the affection and attention she received.
On the third day of her rescue, Xena’s tail began to wag, signifying her newfound happiness.
“She just started flourishing each day, with affection and belief, overcoming her fears,” Lisa shared.
One month after Xena was rescued, she encountered a lovely family from Orange County with two older daughters who were eager to adopt her.
“Typically, the black Pitbulls are the hardest to adopt, but that’s what we had previously. I was like, ‘No, that’s what I desire!’ I said, ‘Give me the one that I knew would likely be in boarding for an extended period, perhaps never even finding a foster.’ Yes, that’s what we were looking for,” Shelly, Xena’s adoptive mother, shared with The Dodo.
Once Xena comprehended that she could rely on humans, she blossomed into an extraordinary dog. She radiated sweetness, and everyone could perceive just how truly happy she was.
Her wonderful family took her on numerous adventures and cherished her until her final breath. Unfortunately, Xena, the warrior, passed away in May 2022.
You can view her story here: