While strolling through the streets of Los Angeles, Bridget Blitsch stumbled upon a heart-wrenching sight she would never forget. A distraught family, overwhelmed with emotion, was tying their German Shepherd-Malinois mix to a tree in an empty parking lot. With tears streaming down their faces, they placed a muzzle on the dog and left a bag of food beside her before walking away slowly. The confused dog sat quietly, seemingly unaware of what was happening.
Perhaps she thought her family would return soon, assuming they were just stepping away for a bit. But it didn’t take long for the harsh reality to sink in—her family wasn’t coming back. Her calm demeanor shifted to distress, and she began whimpering, desperate for them to return.
*Her family didn’t give up on her. Read on to find out why she was left behind*
Witnessing this heartbreaking moment, Blitsch knew she had to act. She immediately reached out to Suzette Hall, the founder of Logan’s Legacy 29, a rescue organization in Irvine, California. Hall wasted no time and headed to the scene, determined to help the abandoned pup.
“When you think your heart can’t break anymore, and then you see this. She didn’t know she would never see them again,” Hall shared in an emotional Instagram post.
As the dog—now named Melody—tried to follow her family, the rope around her neck kept her anchored to the tree. Thankfully, Blitsch stayed by her side, offering comfort and affection. Melody, though clearly heartbroken, began warming up to her rescuers, slowly finding a sense of safety in their presence.
While soothing Melody with gentle hugs and kisses, Blitsch noticed something around the dog’s neck—a necklace left behind by her former family. It was a parting gift, a way to leave a piece of themselves with her. Blitsch later shared, “I put the necklace on my seat after I dropped her at my vet, and I looked over, and it had formed a heart by itself.”
As Hall transported Melody to the vet for a full examination, she uncovered the heartbreaking reason behind the family’s decision. “They became homeless, and the shelter they were staying at wouldn’t allow dogs. They were forced to choose between staying at the shelter or keeping their dog,” Hall explained. “This sweet little baby didn’t deserve this.”
The emotional weight of the moment was overwhelming for everyone. “She was crying, Bridget was crying, I was crying,” Hall recalled. “If Bridget hadn’t been there at just the right time, Melody might still be sitting there, tied to that tree, wondering where her family went.”
In the weeks following her rescue, Melody began to heal. Hall found her a loving foster home where she could decompress and start to leave her painful past behind. Slowly but surely, Melody’s spirit was restored, and she blossomed into the joyful dog she was always meant to be.
Merida is a senior who was found abandoned in a backyard with her sibling who had passed away. She was left to fend for herself as an 11-year-old with diabetes. Thankfully, Kanoa Rescue Foundation stepped in to save her, but she still needs your help!
Today, Melody’s life is filled with happiness, laughter, and love. With her foster family’s care, she’s been able to experience the joy that every dog deserves. And Hall is confident that it won’t be long before Melody finds her forever home.
Toledo, United States.
