We are leaving for our next rescue mission. As always, the days leading up have been spent packing our rescue van in California full of donated medications, food, bedding, and supplies for homeless animals south of the border and the next few days will be long ones of highway travel before picking up the lucky Meximutts awaiting us in Juarez.

Every batch of dogs that we save from Mexico is filled with the most amazing stories of hardship overcome and beautiful examples of hope conquering despair. This group is no different, shining brightly with the unparalleled courage and seemingly infinite resilience of these amazing animals.

As we head out to help them along the final leg of their rescue journey, we share with you the stories of a few of these remarkable dogs

Here a few of the dogs

Pitufa: The Summer’s Most Unexpected Blossom

Pitufa’s tale is no different than that of nearly all the dogs we rescue and is truly representative of life for most street dogs in Mexico. She was rescued from an animal control center in Juarez, where she was being held after getting rounded up off the streets where she had been scrounging to survive.

Pitufa was thrown into a holding pen with 30-40 other dogs and there she sat, frightened, hungry, and confused. Her eyes were so infected they were sealed shut and she could barely see. Her coat was so matted and crusted she had difficulty walking well and had large wounds from the tension of her snarled hair and infected skin. She was thin. She was depressed.

Pitufa had obviously been in this horrific condition for some time, yet despite the unthinkable physical discomfort she had been fighting to survive on the streets. Then, just like that she got rounded up and now sat facing certain death at an animal control center.

Fortunately, this is an animal control center where we rescue from and also implement a humane euthanasia program within. Pitufa was rescued by a compassionate local veterinarian that works for CWOB who remembers lifting her delicate frame from the group of dogs and being shocked by how light she was underneath her giant coat of matts and filth.

Pitufa was given immediate veterinary attention, she was shaved down, fed, dewormed, treated for her eye and skin infection and she was reassured, loved and given the one thing she had never known until that moment – kindness, mercy, and a loving touch.

Pitufa has, as all of these amazing dogs do, made an unbelievable recovery. She has been transformed from a frightened, frail, shell of a dog into a robust, vibrant joyful spirit.

Her eyes, once so goopy she couldn’t see, now shine with the light of being that fought so hard to survive and somehow, amazingly, did just that and so much more than she ever could have dreamed of.

Pitufa will make a delightful companion for some lucky home and despite the jagged roots of her past, will undoubtedly continue to blossom.

And, in my opinion, it is that flower that grows despite the harshest soil, blooming in defiance of its destiny; that flower that seemed fated to wilt before ever even given a chance to blossom whose petals are, without exception, the most lovely.

Chester: Chester is as handsome as dogs come.

A beautiful, glossy coated Golden Retriever with the sweet disposition of a dog that aims to please. Sadly, at just one year of age, Chester has not had an easy beginning. He lived his life on the end of a chain in a barren yard outside someone’s house. Never taken off, since he was a puppy, this poor dog slept, ate, lived and breathed chained up 24 hours a day. A local volunteer in Mexico who passed by Chester each day tried without success to convince the family who had Chester chained to let him go, to give him a better life. Finally, one day when she was advocating for him again with the people, they told her to just take him, they didn’t want him anyways.

Elated, the woman did what no one had done for Chester since he was a puppy – she unchained him. She says he immediately jumped on her and began to kiss her face and he has spent the past few months running around and experiencing life as a free spirit without a care in the world.

Chester is a gentle, exuberant guy who will be an amazing family dog and who will never again have his spirit and body tethered to an uncaring home.

Some of the other dogs heading north this weekend. Remember you can sponsor them and dogs just like them for just $100 today.