Arizona family finds hungry abandoned 5 month old puppy in desert bush by road with no chip, gives her loving furever home with a canine sibling

Laurent Shinar

Thu, September 3, 2026 at 10:00 PM UTC

2 min read

A puppy was found abandoned in the desert, left to perish under the baking sun.
The kind people who found the puppy decided to take her in and give her a loving home.
Dumping a dog in the desert is a heartless act that puts the animal's life at risk.

We would have once agreed with you if you told us that the desert would be the last place to find an abandoned puppy. But after having read this story, you too will be headed out to your nearest desert to make sure that no poor puppy has been left to perish under the baking sun.

It is a tale that has reverberated deep into our hearts and is a tough reminder of the kinds of people in this world who end up caring for dogs. The kind of people who would rather hide their shame and guilt by dumping a dog in the desert, rather than handing them over to a shelter. The kind of people who do not care for the soul of a sweet pupper who wants nothing more than to love and be loved.

But it seems that for every problematic person like that, there is at least one lovely hooman who is willing and able to step up to the plate and clear up the mess that those people have left behind. So join us for the story of a family who grew by four pawdorable paws when they innocently drove through the desert one fateful day.

"It's taken some time but she's starting to act like a new pup."

So my brother and father were driving through the desert in Arizona and my brother spotted a dog in a bush

in the side of the road. They stopped to check it out and she's sweet as can be. No dog tag or chip (we took her to

a vet). Leash is in poor shape. She's definitely under fed as she's very skinny in the rib area. Made tons of posts on next door

and other related apps to see if we can find the owner but no luck. This isn't near a hiking path/trail.

You know, we have heard about all sorts of places that people have dumped their pups in. Everything from dumpsters, forests, parking lots and many more, but in each one of these places there is some slight hope for survival. But to be dumped in the desert, as a puppy no less, is simply diabolical. It is a sentence for life, and a short one at that. Even us hoomans with all that we know about the desert would not fare very well if abandoned there. So how can someone be so heartless as to do that to a puppy?

My wife and I gave her a bunch of food and water and it's taken some time but she's starting to act like a new pup.

We think she's part wiener dog (because of the face), and maybe 3-5 months old. She gets along very well with

our dog we already have (mini pin mix). We have called for a vet appointment to get shots. We are going to

take good care of her. I honestly hate stuff like this. She's sweet as can be and is nothing but a

lover. I can't fathom how someone could possible stop a car on the side of a road and let her out to be on her own.

Edit: We've given her a bath too. Don't know what she's been dealing with.

Exactly, it is mind blowing that someone would dare do something so devastating to a doggo like this. The disorientation of being plonked in the desert is enough to drive any pup to give up. It is unreal how lucky this puppy was that these kind people passed by and decided to do the exact opposite of what her old pawrent did. We just hope that in some way that bath helped wash that puppy of the memories and feelings of being left behind like that. She does not deserve to live the rest of her long life with those memories floating around her mind.

2nd edit: For anyone that wants an update, she's doing really well after getting good

rest and food/water. Here she is playing with our other dog Maya.

3rd edit: We are naming her 'Misty' after the og gym leader in Pokemon. It just seemed to fit. She really

fits in great in our little family and I appreciate all the well wishes.

4th edit: Misty LOVES toys. Our other dog Maya loves them as well and it's seriously exhausting

watching them play tug of war and jump around. I have no clue how someone could dump this darling on the

side of the road. I suspect she might chew a bit too much for the fluff

toys so I'm probably going to stick to the rubber and rope types.

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We would have once agreed with you if you told us that the desert would be the last place to find an abandoned puppy. But after having read this story, you too will be headed out to your nearest desert to make sure that no poor puppy has been left to perish under the baking sun.