Have you ever wondered what happens when a dog’s owner abandons them? They wait. Watching. Hoping for their family to return.
This week, in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, residents noticed a terrified, collie-like dog lingering around a neighborhood park. She was all alone in the cold, unwilling to let anyone get close enough to touch her.
Concerned for her safety, locals reached out to Janine Guido, the founder of Speranza Animal Rescue, a well-known rescue organization in town.
“She stayed in the same spot, as if waiting for her family to come back,” Guido told The Dodo. “But they never did.”
Guido relied on community reports to locate and rescue the dog. Residents called in sightings, trying to help track her down.
A Difficult Rescue
Rescuing the frightened dog wasn’t easy.
“The first and second days I went out, I managed to hand-feed her,” Guido explained. “But every time I tried to slip a leash around her, she would back away.”
Guido came close several times, but the dog—who was later named Carla—was too scared. Each time, she bolted into the woods.
Meanwhile, Speranza Animal Rescue shared Carla’s story on Facebook to spread awareness and seek help. Their post read:
“Ever wonder what happens to a dog abandoned by her owners? She sits and watches. Waiting for her family to return.”
The park was crowded, making Carla even more nervous. “She kept getting startled by all the people around her,” Guido said. “Eventually, she ran deeper into the woods to escape.”
After two days of searching, Carla had disappeared completely, leaving many worried.
A Desperate Search and a Hopeful Lead
On Wednesday, there was no sign of her. But early Thursday morning, a call came in—Carla had been spotted sleeping under a back porch.
Guido rushed to the location, hoping this was her chance.
“I almost had her, but she got spooked again,” she said. Carla ran.
A few hours later, Guido went live on Speranza Animal Rescue’s Facebook page, updating followers as she searched.
Then, another call came—Carla had been seen again. This time, the camera on the live video shifted to reveal Carla sitting in the passenger seat of Guido’s car.
“We got her! I’m so happy!” Guido said through tears of joy. “Your new life begins now. You’re safe, and we love you.”
A New Beginning
Guido explained how she finally secured the frightened dog.
“I was able to guide her onto a porch, and with the help of two other women blocking the exits, she had nowhere to run. I quickly secured her, and from there, the rest is history.”
At the clinic, Carla was found to be 10 years old, severely underweight—by 15 to 20 pounds—and had no microchip.
“No one knows who she is. There are no missing reports,” Guido said. “Sadly, we believe she was dumped, which is why she never left that area.”
Despite her fear, Carla remained gentle.
“She’s so sweet but so scared,” Guido shared. “But the moment she got into my car, she seemed to realize she was finally safe.”
Carla’s journey from abandonment to rescue was heartbreaking, but thanks to the kindness of strangers, she now has a second chance at life.
