From Homeless to Hero: How one Dog's Foster Journey Saved Seven lives.

Hailey, one of the many sweet and very adoptable rescue dogs who reside at the San Jacinto County Animal Shelter, has recently found herself in the next stage of her rescue journey. After coming to the shelter in September of 2024 with two young puppies of her own, Hailey has now moved in with a loving foster family. This family just happens to be the home of our facilities volunteer dog trainer. Erica Fernandez and Tyler Jordan have opened the doors of their home and business to host Hailey and train her for her future forever home. As Hailey adjusts to the Equilibrium Canine Academy lifestyle, we look forward to seeing her progress and see her skills develop!

Hailey's foster placement not only helps teach her to trust people and behave in a home environment but also makes way for other lives to be saved! Because her kennel at the shelter was now vacant, our team of volunteers at the San Jacinto County Animal Shelter was able to accommodate room in our facility for other rescue dogs in need. That kennel was immediately used to intake a family of six puppies and their momma, who were all dumped on the side of a local county road trail head entrance.

This beautiful little family was discovered by a good Samaritan who was jogging down the trail when she was joined by a pack of wagging tails and frail little bodies. The finder posted the family on Facebook, which one of our volunteers eventually saw, and networked the call to action through our team. Within 20 minutes we had two more amazing volunteers on site at the trail head where the puppies had run right up to them and they were safely secured. All that was left was to find the momma dog, and while one volunteer went back to the vehicles to check on the puppies, the momma appeared out of the woods and jumped right into the car, happy and wiggling with excitement. She showered her rescuers with kisses and head rubs as they rode back to the facility where all of their conditions were assessed and accommodations for them were made.

Our new momma dog was covered in ticks - over 20 of them were removed from her ears alone. She is thin and has some cuts to her face and neck. But despite this, she melts in the hands of anyone who loves on her. You could see the relief in her eyes during her first bath; she behaved wonderfully, and the way she happily complied with the volunteers' physical handling and assessment of her condition was first-class. A handful of ticks were removed from the puppies, and they are all being treated for intestinal parasites as well as receiving topical treatment to alleviate the discomfort their bodies have endured from countless insect bites. They are underweight and dehydrated but are on the road to recovery.

Although they're out of the woods, their happy ending isn't here yet. All these amazing puppies and their momma will be available for adoption very soon. And don't forget about Hailey, she is currently available for adoption - and when she finds her forever home, there will be room for another pup to enter the foster home! Just think of how many more wonderful companions can be saved when you choose to foster or adopt an SJC dog today!