Imagine heading out for a peaceful trail run, only to encounter something shocking under a bench. As you approach, you see two eyes staring back from a black trash bag.
This is exactly what happened to Sawna Guadarrama and her friend Hilary at the Cobb Estate Trail Head in California.
A small white puppy had been abandoned in a remote location, and the sight stopped them in their tracks, altering the course of their day entirely.
A Frightened Pup Left Behind
Sawna was taken aback by the puppy’s condition. He appeared terrified, shaking with fear, and completely alone.
“He was terrified. He was shaking, he was cold, and no one was around. He was completely alone,” the runner told GeoBeats Animals.
Sawna, an ultra runner living in Altadena, California, with her partner Eamon and their two dogs, knew she couldn’t simply walk away.
She gently scooped up the puppy, brought him home, and gave him a warm bath to soothe him.
An Attempt To Find His Family
Initially, Sawna assumed the puppy was a lost pet. She named him Cedar and took him to the vet to check for a microchip.
While waiting for updates, she posted his photo across several platforms, hoping someone might recognize him. But no one came forward.
Despite all her efforts, Cedar’s family never appeared.
It soon became clear that Cedar hadn’t gotten lost. He had likely been placed in the trash bag and dumped there intentionally.
“I called the humane society, posted his picture on several lost dog sites, and checked for a microchip, hoping he might have been stolen rather than intentionally abandoned. It’s hard to believe someone could be so heartless,” Sawna shared on Instagram.
A New Beginning
After exhausting all leads, Sawna and her family decided to foster Cedar until they could find him a permanent home. But within weeks, everything changed.
Just a month later, Sawna and Eamon were amazed by Cedar’s transformation. Once timid and unsure, he had grown larger than their other dogs, Juniper and Aspen.
More surprisingly, the bond between them grew stronger each day.
What they initially thought would be a short-term fostering situation quickly turned into a realization that Cedar was more than just a temporary guest. He was family.
Cedar was officially adopted. What began as a shocking discovery had blossomed into a lifelong connection. From that first moment under the bench, everything just felt right.
“Since the day we found each other, it’s been a journey of healing, and a whole lot of trail miles. From early morning runs, training time in the park, to quiet moments snuggling at home, he’s reminded me what resilience really looks like,” Sawna shared on Instagram.
Cedar, with his half-blue eye and gentle spirit, became the perfect running companion. He now joins his humans on every long-distance run, embracing each moment and living the life he was always meant to have.
