Dog Is Abandoned Under Trailer in Texas Heat After Owners Move. Then a Neighbor Spots Him from Her Window

One quiet afternoon in May, Stephanie Garcia was standing at her kitchen sink doing the dishes when she noticed a dog wandering in her neighbor’s front yard.

Normally, a dog wandering nearby wouldn’t be unusual. But Garcia’s neighbors had moved out just a few days earlier, leaving the property empty—except for the mysterious brown dog.

Worried, the 26-year-old left some food and water just inside the gate.

“I knew I couldn’t trespass on the property because I didn’t have permission, so I figured a rescue could help if I couldn’t,” Garcia tells PEOPLE.

She called the SPCA right away, hoping they could take the dog. But the organization needed a warrant from a Liberty County judge to enter the property. Shockingly, the judge denied the request, and the SPCA had to drop the case, leaving the dog—later named Chance—without official help.

For two weeks, Garcia contacted animal rescues across the Houston area, but most shelters were full or couldn’t assist.

One day, she saw a woman with keys to the house and asked for permission to step onto the property.

“Chance would’ve been left to fend for himself in the South Texas heat with no food or water if my husband and I hadn’t stepped in,” Garcia says. It’s unclear if the dog belonged to the neighbors or anyone else, as the area is known to attract abandoned animals.

Once they got the go-ahead, Garcia and her husband brought food, water, and a dog bed, starting the slow process of earning Chance’s trust.

“Chance was terrified and had clearly been through a lot. We could take our time, unlike most rescues that need immediate action,” Garcia explains.

Some people online criticized Garcia for not rescuing Chance immediately, but the dog kept his distance and wouldn’t let anyone near him at first.

Because she already had four dogs, Garcia and her husband decided to move slowly and focus on trust.

“We didn’t try to get close at first. We let him get used to our faces, scents, and voices,” she recalls. “After a week, Chance stopped running from us and seemed more comfortable.”

On day 13, Chance followed her onto her property but soon returned next door, unsure of the unfamiliar space. It was still a big step because he had rarely left his hiding spot under a trailer.

On day 14, Garcia mowed the grass near where he hid to reduce bugs. That morning, Chance approached her and followed her home. She spent hours in the garage showing him it was safe.

“His body language changed, and his tail wags became more frequent,” she says. “Our patience was paying off. Chance could see we cared about him.”

On June 20, Chance was finally ready to stay. Garcia kept him in the garage until a mobile vet visit confirmed he could safely be around her other dogs. The vet diagnosed him with heartworms, and treatment started immediately.

A few days later, Garcia heard howling outside and discovered a female German Shepherd, later named Nova, who seemed to be a stray. She had been abandoned months earlier and was sometimes fed by people near a nearby dollar store.

“We kept Nova, and she also got vet care,” Garcia says. “Chance and Nova are a package.”

Garcia’s husband introduced their dogs to Chance and Nova one at a time, carefully monitoring them.

“The hardest part of rescuing dogs is staying strong during trauma and creating the right plan,” Garcia says. “It’s not always right to trap a dog, and we learned that with Chance.”

All the dogs Garcia and her husband have brought home have unique stories. They’ve always loved helping animals, especially dogs.

Chance and Nova were the first dogs they personally rescued, apart from adopting from shelters.

“Having many dogs isn’t easy financially. There’s food, medication, vet bills, and supplies,” Garcia admits. “My husband’s job took a hit last year, and it’s been a tough time financially.”

Despite that, they rescued Chance and Nova, even with four other dogs and two children.

“Dogs don’t deserve to be treated badly or thrown away. I shared our story online to raise awareness,” Garcia says. “Animal neglect in Texas is growing and heartbreaking.”

Though they plan to rescue more dogs, they won’t keep any more permanently. One challenge is learning to let rescued dogs go to loving homes.

On the bright side, seeing a dog change physically and emotionally is rewarding.

“Watching a dog’s eyes light up after being sad is healing. Chance has changed my life in many ways,” Garcia shares.

Because her neighborhood often attracts abandoned dogs, Garcia plans to start a rescue for abandoned, abused, and stray dogs.

“If I could give advice to anyone helping animals, it’s to never give up. You don’t need to be an organization to make a difference,” Garcia says. “Patience is key. Great things take time and effort.”