Dog Tied to Fence in San Diego Park Finds Hope After Heartbreaking Note
The other day in San Diego, California, a woman named Erica received a frantic call from her neighbor that immediately stopped her in her tracks.
Her neighbor had been walking through Balboa Park when he spotted a gray pit bull tied to a fence near a section known as Juniper’s Staircase. Knowing that Erica often rescues dogs — especially pit bulls — he called her for help.
When Erica arrived, she found the pup exactly where her neighbor had said, tied to a sign with a crumpled note left behind. The message was devastating:
“Just got him, and it was too much for me. Nice dog. Can’t keep him, and original owner doesn’t want him back. Please help.”
Erica named the abandoned pup Juniper. Despite his ordeal, he greeted her with a wagging tail and a gentle smile, as though relieved that someone had finally come for him.
“Everyone is this guy’s new best friend, so it was easy to get him into the car,” Erica wrote on Instagram. “In fact, he was thrilled to go for a ride.”
Back at her home, Juniper immediately found the dog toys and beds shared by Erica’s three pit bulls. He was so excited, but Erica quickly realized that her pack was a bit overwhelming for him. With no foster families available, she temporarily brought him to the San Diego Humane Society (SDHS), where he could get medical care and eventually find a permanent home.
But Erica never left him. She visited Juniper every day during his mandatory stray hold, bringing him and the other shelter dogs treats. After his neuter surgery, he became eligible for foster care — and this time, Erica found him the perfect family.
Now going by Juno, the sweet dog is thriving in foster care. He’s safe, cozy, and loved while he waits for his forever home.
“I don’t think he will have any problems finding a home with how extremely friendly he is!” Erica said.
Thanks to the compassion of a neighbor and Erica’s unwavering dedication, Juno’s days of waiting tied to a fence are behind him. His future is bright, and soon, his forever family will find him.