In December of 2024, a chihuahua, pitbull and collie mix named Stevie was born, joining the world as a tiny ball of black and white fur. Stevie’s mom, Chai, was rescued not long before in the Warm Springs reservation area, pregnant and in need of a safe place to have her puppies. Rescue workers from Bend’s Street Dog Hero found her at the perfect time, taking her in and setting her up with a foster family who could meet the pups’ needs, keeping Stevie and her family happy, fed, and safe from the winter cold.
As Stevie and her siblings began to grow, Street Dog Hero worked on finding them forever homes, a journey along which they have helped countless other pets. The team saves pets from situations varying from heartbreaking war-torn pasts to honorable surrenders by owners hoping to give their furry friends a happier home.
Stevie’s family was a part of the latter situation, and Street Dog Hero gave them a chance at a better life. After two months, Stevie left the foster system and found a family with her adopted parents Peyton Nicoli, Brenden Galloway and their sweet yellow lab Jameson. Nicoli and Galloway, having fostered for Street Dog Hero in the past, “loved the organization and what they support,” Nicoli says. In December of 2024, they decided it was their turn to take home a puppy permanently. Street Dog Hero introduced them to Stevie, and it was love at first sight. She was originally brought into the family to “keep her older brother, Jamo (Jameson) company,” Nicoli shares, which turned out wonderfully; “They are best friends, and practically inseparable. They love each other!” Since then, she has also stolen the hearts of all who have met her, making fast friends with everyone she encounters.
Though she is small in size, Stevie’s energy fills every room she sets paw in. She is known for launching herself into Nicoli’s arms when Nicoli gets home, hurdling over any obstacle that dare separates her from her beloved mom. She loves to go on hikes and backpacking trips, especially if she can stick her head out the window on the drive there. She is a notoriously “terrible swimmer,” as Nicoli shares, “except when she has a stick in her mouth – then she is an amazing swimmer for some reason.”
Because of the care, nurturing, and love she received from rescuers and her new family, Stevie’s story is a happy one. Many other four-legged friends share similar stories, made happier by locals willing to help, foster parents welcoming pets into their homes, and pet parents choosing to adopt their fuzzy friends.
This article appears in Central Oregon Pets Fall 2026.
MAKE LOCAL JOURNALISM HAPPEN
Republish our articles for free, online or in print, under a Creative Commons license.
