Cinder’s Second Chance

A Rescue Dog Finds Love After Surviving the Los Angeles Fires

“Sometimes the perfect dog comes into your life when you least expect it, bringing healing and joy when you need it most.”

Sometimes, the perfect dog comes into your life when you least expect it, bringing healing and joy when you need it most. That’s exactly what happened to a family in Mendocino County when they adopted Cinder, a puppy who was rescued by Joybound during the Los Angeles Palisades fire rescue runs.

The family shared their heartwarming story with us: “In 2017, horrific fires swept through Sonoma and Mendocino counties on the same night. We lived in Mendocino and volunteered to foster dogs displaced by the fire. We ended up with a puppy who had lost her mother and littermates to the fire. That foster turned into an adoption, and we loved that dog. She passed away in June 2024, leaving us heartbroken.

When we heard that Joybound was bringing a truckload of dogs up from the LA fires, we knew our late dog had her fine paw in this. We made the three-hour trip down to meet some of the dogs, and it was love at first sight with Belle, who we renamed Cinder.”

Cinder quickly settled into her new home with devoted parents who are retired and can spend all their time with her. She’s thriving on their large country property and has already learned basic commands like “sit,” while eagerly mastering leash and house training. “She has a perfect temperament and is eager to learn,” the family shared. “Her loving nature is exactly what our hearts need to heal.”

Cinder is now part of a loving family, and she’s found a playful sibling in a large Flame Point Siamese named Loki. Despite being smaller, she’s already enjoying wrestling games with her new furry brother. The family’s gratitude for Cinder — and for Joybound’s efforts to bring her into their lives — is clear. They’ve even encouraged two friends to visit Joybound in search of their own perfect pet.

Note: This article was featured in Joybound’s Spring 2025 issue of Joy Magazine. With a gift of just $25 to Joybound, you can be added to our mailing list and receive Joy in your mailbox for one year!