Many people call him a “dog catcher,” but Eldad Hagar prefers a different title: Dog Rescuer. For him, it’s not about capturing an animal; it’s about building a relationship with a soul that has been completely shattered by the world.

When Eldad first found Miley, the sight was haunting. She was living on a literal pile of trash, her body ravaged by severe mange and infections. In situations like this, time is often the enemy. Sometimes, the infection is so overwhelming that the dog’s body simply gives up.

More Than an Hour on a Pile of Rubbish

Eldad didn’t just grab her and leave. He spent over an hour sitting with her on that pile of trash, quietly reassuring her that everything was going to be fine. He wanted her rescue to be a positive experience—the first moment of kindness in a life filled with cruelty.

“Many people don’t realize how exhausting it is to be a stray dog,” Eldad explains. “You’re always on alert. You never know who’s going to attack you or who’s going to be unkind.”

Video From Chains to Hope: A Paralyzed Dog’s Cry That Changed Everything

When Miley finally felt safe, something amazing happened: she didn’t just walk to the car; she jumped in. She was more than ready to leave her old life behind. Once she reached the shelter, Miley did something she hadn’t been able to do for years: she relaxed. She slept for three straight days, finally letting her body and mind begin the long process of healing.

A Miracle in a Sewer Tunnel: Meeting Frankie

But Miley’s story was only half of the miracle. Deep inside a dark sewer tunnel under the busy Five Freeway, another soul was waiting. A tiny Chihuahua named Frankie had made a “nest” out of trash at the very center of the tunnel.

Eldad had to crawl into the darkness, knowing that if an earthquake hit, that tunnel would become his grave. Frankie was completely shut down, his emotional recovery far more difficult than his physical one. He had been alone in the dark for so long that he had forgotten how to be a dog.

The Most Amazing Moment: Two Broken Souls Heal Together

What happened next is a moment that captured the hearts of millions. When Miley and Frankie were introduced, they didn’t just coexist—they bonded.

In a staggering display of empathy, Frankie—the dog who had been terrified of everything—began to lick Miley’s wounds. It was as if they recognized the pain in each other. These two creatures, once left for dead in the trash and the dark, became each other’s greatest medicine.

Why These Stories Matter

People often ask rescuers how they deal with the emotional weight of seeing such horror every day. The answer is simple: it’s the evolution. Seeing a dog who was sad, depressed, and dying become a healthy, happy animal in just ten days is a transformation that gives people hope.

Many people see themselves in dogs like Miley and Frankie. If a dog can find hope after being discarded on a trash pile, then perhaps there is hope for anyone in a vulnerable place. Things can get better.

Miley and Frankie are no longer “trash pile dogs.” They are living proof that love is the most powerful force for change in the world.