Phoenix

In Their Forever Home

Their Journey So Far

1. Rescued

   September 2, 2026

   We saw a shelter post about a dog named Willow and immediately did a double take. We recognized her. She looked exactly like a puppy we had known, so that night we went to the shelter to find out if it was really her. It was. And there was absolutely no way we were leaving her behind. With the help of our friend Susan, who stepped up to give her a freedom ride, we busted this girl out of the shelter and officially brought her into The Comeback Pack. She had been adopted as a very young puppy and was supposed to have found her forever family, but before she was even fully grown she ended up back at the shelter. That's where that story ends. Her comeback starts now, and we think she deserves a brand-new name for her brand-new life.

2. Reborn as Phoenix

   September 4, 2026

   Allow us to reintroduce Phoenix. She has already lived a lot of life for a girl who's only about nine months old: rescued from awful conditions at just five weeks, fostered, adopted as a young puppy, and back in a shelter before her first birthday. The moment we found out where she was, we started putting a plan together to get her out. Back then her name was Willow, but walking out of that shelter was the beginning of a completely new life, and we thought she deserved a name to match. So Willow was reborn as Phoenix. She's a gorgeous pittie mix, about nine months old and 50 pounds, and currently in her velociraptor puppy era: think rambunctious teenager with a big personality who really, really wants to make you happy, especially if you happen to be holding treats. She is fabulous with other dogs and loves to play hard, so a playful dog who can keep up with her would be a great match. She's incredibly smart, eager to learn, and highly trainable; she already knows a couple of tricks and is working on her leash skills, and she'll need a family willing to keep teaching her how to channel all that teenage enthusiasm. Underneath the puppy chaos, she is an absolute love: belly rubs, the best kisses, affectionate, goofy, and full of personality. This time, we want forever. Phoenix is ready for the family who will look at her and know she isn't temporary. She's home.

3. Volunteers Needed for Doggy Day Out

   September 9, 2026

   We're looking for volunteers to take Phoenix on a Doggy Day Out — a walk, a pup cup, a pet-friendly outing, or just a few hours of extra love. It's a great way to help her get seen by potential adopters while she waits for her forever home. We provide the dog; you provide the adventure. Pick up and drop off will be in Perris, CA.

   • Read the full Doggy Day Out call

   

4. Her First Doggy Day Out

   September 11, 2026

   Phoenix had her first Doggy Day Out, and she rocked it! She spent the day with Wendy and her family, who took her to the park, out to lunch, and for a stroll around the store — and Phoenix soaked up every bit of it. Wendy said she was sweet, affectionate, and great in the car, took treats gently, and settled down quickly after bursts of puppy energy. She's already offered to take Phoenix out again a couple of times a week until she finds her forever home. These outings help potential adopters see exactly who Phoenix is: a girl who looks at the world through rose-colored glasses.

   

5. Doggy Day Out, Round Two

   September 15, 2026

   Phoenix would like to formally request that every day be a Doggy Day Out. This time she got to spend the day with Wendy and Kristy, and by the look on her face, it was one of the best days of her life. Doggy Day Outs aren't just fun for Phoenix — the org points to research on shelter dogs suggesting that brief outings like these can significantly boost a dog's odds of getting adopted, since they get her out into the community where people can see her, and give us great photos and videos to share. Most Comeback Pack dogs live in foster homes where we learn about them every day, but Phoenix is currently in boarding, so these outings are especially valuable for getting her story out there. Every adventure is another chance for the right person to see her and think: that's my dog.

   

6. Adopted!

   September 19, 2026

   Phoenix is officially adopted, and this one feels especially good. Before coming to The Comeback Pack, she'd already been adopted and returned three times — at only nine months old, and none of it was her fault. When we pulled her from the shelter, she had energy, excitement, and absolutely no idea what to do with herself. We renamed her Phoenix because we believed she could rise from the ashes of her past and become the dog she was always meant to be, and today that name came true. She has a family. She has a home. She has her happily ever after. It truly took a team: Susan gave her a freedom ride and helped with boarding costs to get her out of the shelter; Rebecca at Pupcake's Dog Care gave her the loving, stable environment she needed to decompress, settle in, and learn what it felt like to be safe; and Wendy and Kristy took her on Doggy Day Out adventures that gave her enrichment and practice being out in the world, so by the time she met her new family, she already knew the drill. Three returns didn't define Phoenix's story — they were just part of the road that eventually led her exactly where she belonged.

   • Meet Pupcake's Dog Care