A viral video of two dogs abandoned in the woods by their owner broke her heart — but one comment pushed her to do the unthinkable

When a video of two dogs being abandoned in the woods began circulating online, it left many viewers heartbroken. But for one woman, it did more than that; it pushed her to take action. After coming across a viral Facebook video in late October 2025 showing two pet dogs being left behind in the woods by their owner, Barbara Holbrook decided she couldn’t just scroll past. What began as a heartbreaking clip online soon set in motion a chain of events that would restore everyone's faith in compassion and kindness. 

As reported by PEOPLE, Holbrook saw the viral footage while scrolling online. “I saw the Facebook reel before I ever saw the TikTok,” she said. “It was Friday evening, and I’d called off work that day. I saw all these comments about how awful it was, but not one asking if someone had gone to get them. So I thought — why not me?” Grabbing a can of wet cat food, she drove to the remote area where the dogs had been seen. The road was empty, lined with thick trees and brush. She searched for nearly an hour before she heard a faint bark from up the hillside.

Carefully, Holbrook made her way up the hill, following the faint sound and gently calling out while holding bits of food in her hand. Two nervous faces soon appeared through the branches. “It actually ended up being wet cat food that got them,” she laughed. “After about an hour, they let me close enough to catch them.” As she coaxed them down, another car pulled up; the man who had filmed the original video had returned with his children to check on the dogs. Together, they helped lift the frightened animals into Holbrook’s car, finally ending their long, lonely wait. “He was so kind," she rescuer thanked the man.

Once they were safe, Holbrook contacted local rescue groups for help. “Thankfully, two local organizations offered right away,” she explained. She further shared that the dogs were taken in by One By One Animal Advocates and placed in a foster home, where they were being vaccinated, spayed and neutered, before being put up for adoption once all legal matters were settled. The rescue came together quickly, something Holbrook said doesn’t always happen. “Sometimes you go out again and again and never find them. So this one meant a lot.” For her, the most powerful moment was when the dogs finally trusted her enough to come forward. “That moment — when they decide to trust — is always the most rewarding.”

Her TikTok video depicting the rescue of the dogs has now gained more than 1.9 million views, sparking anger, sadness, and admiration for those who stepped in. Holbrook hopes the story reminds others that rescue work starts with simple choices. “A lot of people scroll past things like this and assume someone else will go get them,” she said. “But sometimes, nobody is. If it’s safe and you’re able, go check.” She believes that even small actions like donating food, helping shelters, or spreading awareness can make a big difference. For the two dogs who waited all night in the woods, one person’s decision to act changed everything. “They waited there all night for their owner to come back,” Holbrook said quietly. “It breaks your heart. Because even after being left, they still believed she would.”