UPDATE: Mastiff Pair that Survived High Speed Chase Finds Forever Home Together

Onyx and Starlet went through hell together. Rescuers promised to keep them together. They were able to maintain that vow when they found the pair a forever home. Thousands of applicants contacted Foxy and the Hounds wanting to take in the Mastiffs. After a rigorous screening, the shelter found the perfect spot for the duo.

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I know everyone is anxious for us to get Starlet and Onyx adopted. We have a very thorough adoption process and are careful about the home we place all of our rescues. We were new to the media frenzy that followed once these two pups were in our care. We are trying to decipher which families are more interested in the fame and glory that has come with Starlet & Onyx and which families truly have their best interest at heart and would give them the forever home they deserve. We only want what is best for them and consider ourselves matchmakers, not only for the dogs, but for the families wanting to adopt them. It has been difficult sorting through the thousands of emails we have received from potential adopters for Starlet & Onyx. Many are from out of state, but at this time we are choosing to adopt them together only in California. We are also looking for a home where they are the only two dogs. We are taking our time to ensure we find the perfect family and want them in their forever home as badly as you all do. Finding the perfect forever home is our primary concern and we are hoping that will be very soon. Thank you to everyone for your patience and we apologize if we have not gotten back to all emails as quickly as we would like, but we are doing our best. We will keep everyone updated as we always do, but for now Starlet & Onyx are happy, loved and well cared for. We know when we choose their family, it will undoubtedly be the perfect forever home! #rescuedogsofinstagram #adoptdontshop #lovedogs #love #mastiff #canecorso #rescuedismyfavoritebreed #bondedpair #together #highspeedchase #furbabies #rescuedogs #rescued #dogsofinstagram #dogs #dogrescue #foxyandthehounds

A post shared by Foxy and the Hounds (@foxyandthehounds) on Jun 21, 2019 at 10:48am PDT

Jen Latham and Shawn Mooers from Bend, Oregon, watched Onyx and Starlet’s harrowing story.

“Right when I saw the story, I looked at Shawn and I said, ‘I just feel like these dogs are supposed to be mine,'” Jen told Inside Edition.

When Foxy and the Hounds employees reviewed Jen and Shawn’s application it stood out. Jen had experience with the large breed. She knew what was necessary to care for them.

After they were selected, the couple drove thirteen hours to Los Angeles. But the drive was worth it. In the end, they had two new additions to their family.

Back to the Beginning

Last month the pair of gentle Mastiffs were involved in a terrifying police chase through the streets of Los Angeles. The suspect was driving a stolen motor home with the innocent dogs along for the ride. Millions watched in horror as the life-threatening chase was broadcast on live TV.

At one point, Starlet leapt from the speeding vehicle through a broken window. Miraculously, she suffered only a broken paw and other minor injuries. Onyx remained inside the RV throughout the entire ordeal. He also avoided serious injuries as the RV careened into a palm tree and several cars.

“It was horrifying,” Terri Fox, president of Foxy and the Hounds told CBS News. “I think we all heard screams around the country because everyone was glued to their televisions and we could not believe she jumped. And she fell on her back. We thought, oh my gosh, her back must be broken.”

Luckily for Starlet, rescuers from Foxy and the Hounds were watching the drama unfold, and sprung to action as soon as she jumped from the RV. One of their volunteers located the frightened pooch later that evening and helped bring her to safety.

Onyx and Starlet were taken into the care of the Los Angeles Department of Animal Services. After nearly a month-long investigation into the incident, the dogs were released into the care of Terri Fox and her team.

Foster Life

Onyx and Starlet are two-years-old and each weigh about 90 pounds. They are currently enjoying life in a loving foster home as the rescue group sorts through their many adoption applications.

“They are incredible,” Fox says, “they are gentle giants. Cane Corsos and Mastiffs, by nature, are a great breed. They are big dogs. So we are very careful who we place them with. And we would like an experienced owner. They are incredible and they are very bonded. And we never separate bonded pairs — ever. So they will stay together forever.”

It looks like a bright future is on the horizon for Onyx and Starlet, but what about the woman who nearly cost them their lives? Julie Ann Rainbird, 52, was arrested on suspicion of eluding a police officer, hit-and-run, and assault. There is also microchip evidence showing that Rainbird is not the legal owner of the dogs.

She is being held on $100,000 bail.

 

H/T to CBS Los Angeles & The Los Angeles Times

Featured Image via Facebook/Foxy and the Hounds

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