Abandoned dog spotted on Google Maps is rescued and fostered

Stray dogs and cats are found on the streets all over America unfortunately. Nothing unusual about that. If they are lucky they are rescued from their fate. Recently an abandoned dog in Los Angeles was seen on the streets but there was a twist to this story on how she was originally spotted.

Jennifer Velasquez was on the internet on Google Maps Street View when she saw the dog outside an abandoned building. She quickly contacted the Los Angeles based rescue group Hope For Paws and told them where she had seen the dog.

Luckily the lost canine had not moved from outside the abandoned building, where Hope For Paws’ rescuer Eldad Hagar found her. The dog, whom he named Sonya, was shy and hiding under a truck when he first approached her.

But soon she was happily gobbling up the bits of cheeseburger that Hagar fed to her. After a while she came out from underneath the truck and over to the parking lot where he eventually got her on a leash. It wasn’t long until Sonya was nuzzling up to his side and opening up to trust him. Hagar was also able to film her rescue on video.


Hagar then took her to a groomer who shaved off her mangled fur coat and gave her a bath. Sonya was then taken to a vet where it was discovered that she had several tumors and arthritis. She was given medical treatment and eventually taken in by a foster family.


A spokesperson has recently given an update on the lucky dog's progress, ‘We have started her on new meds and have started acupuncture. She seems to be responding well to her first session. The vet said if she were still on the street she probably wouldn’t be walking. Sonya is doing good and is happy as ever. Please send her good thoughts and we will take great care of her.’

Thanks to Jennifer Velasquez, Google Maps and Hope for Paws rescue, Sonya now has a wonderful chance for a bright future and a new forever home.