Every morning before sunrise, Judy Obregon quietly sets out on a mission: to save the lives of dogs abandoned in the woods near Echo Lake park, just outside of downtown Forth Worth, Texas. For more than a decade, Obregon has been saving animals who are discarded and left to fend for themselves.
Since 2010, Judy has combed the area six days a week, often more than once a day, rescuing injured, neglected, and frightened animals from a fate worse than being forgotten. What began with the rescue of a wounded Mastiff mix she named Buddy has since evolved into The Abandoned Ones, a full-scale volunteer rescue operation that has saved more than 300 animals from the Echo Lake area alone.
Judy and her team provide veterinary care, rehabilitation, and foster placement to the animals they save — but it’s the ones found too late, lifeless or buried in trash bags, that weigh heaviest on her heart. “If there is an animal out there that is alive, I get them,” she told PEOPLE.
Growing up in the Echo Lake neighborhood, Judy’s compassion for animals emerged early. According to her father, she was just five years old when she rescued a mama cat and her kittens. Over time, her commitment deepened, especially toward vulnerable animals like pit bulls and opossums, and today that instinct is a full-time mission.
The park has become a dumping ground, and Judy fears many of the discarded dogs have ties to illegal dog fighting rings. Weaker dogs may be used as bait, then dumped when they’re no longer useful. Judy works with local law enforcement, though no one has been held accountable for the cruelty she witnesses regularly.
But Judy’s work extends beyond rescue. She is an educator and advocate, forging strong relationships within the local community. She offers resources for low-cost spay-and-neuter services, helps families repair fences and remove dogs from harmful tethering, and creates ongoing trust that allows neighbors to alert her when animals are in danger.
Over the years, she’s rescued dogs from unimaginable conditions. Some are left in crates, still warm from the presence of the person who discarded them. Others are found curled up in discarded furniture, seconds from being hauled away by trash collectors. She’s found puppies too tiny to be seen at first glance — saved only by her persistence and instinct.
While many people scroll past rescue stories online, this woman lives them every day — often alone, often without thanks. Her reward? The wag of a tail, the relief in an animal’s eyes, and the knowledge that for at least one more soul, the world has become a kinder place.
Fearless and determined, Judy Obregon continues to show up for the animals others abandon. Every morning, she returns to Echo Lake, ready to do it all again. “Every animal matters,” she says. “I won’t be going anywhere anytime soon until I can make a bigger impact.”
In a time where so much feels uncertain, her early morning drives and quiet acts of mercy offer a reminder: compassion is powerful, and sometimes, saving one life at a time is more than enough.
