Two years ago, on a snowy night in Utah, Payden Trujillo nearly hit a dark figure on the road — a scared, skinny dog. She lured the pup into her car and brought her to her dad’s house. The dog wore a tag that read: “My name is Lilly, if you found me please keep me. My family can’t and I need love.”
Realizing Lilly had been abandoned, Payden’s sister Mercedes took her in. Lilly was underweight, had frostbite, and suffered from separation anxiety. Mercedes moved often, staying with friends until her university allowed her to keep Lilly on campus.
Lilly was especially fearful of men, so Mercedes brought her to class to help her adjust. Over time, Lilly overcame her fears and became a loving, adventurous companion.
Now living in California, Lilly enjoys hiking and the beach — and recently welcomed a new sister, Ayla, a rescue greyhound mix.