The impact of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids on families has been widely discussed, but an animal rescue organization in California has revealed the heartbreaking effects they have on pets, many of whom are left behind as strays.Nima Nasseri, 42, created his @savethedogs account on TikTok to give a platform to the countless animals in need of rescuing. It initially started as a way to share their stories and encourage people to foster, adopt or volunteer at their local rescue centers. But, more recently, the account has shifted as he focuses on the dogs who have become strays following ICE raids.Nasseri, of Los Angeles, told Newsweek that it is heartbreaking to see animals with "no understanding of what happened to their families." One of the most tear-jerking encounters was a husky that Nasseri found lying in the street, as if waiting for his family to return. When Nasseri learned the dog’s backstory, he felt compelled to help."We found out that he was initially thrown out of a moving truck in that neighborhood, and then a family took him in," Nasseri said. "That family then got deported by ICE, and he has been roaming the streets since October. He wouldn’t leave the neighborhood because that’s where he got abandoned."The poor dog has experienced so much trauma, and he is going to need some time to recover. Luckily, we have professionals to help, including the Stacy Hope Rescue and @redemptiontails.llc."...Newsweek has contacted ICE and the Department of Homeland Security via email for comment.While there is no data showing how many pets are affected by ICE raids, reporting from shelters and rescue organizations highlights a rise in animals being abandoned or surrendered. In July 2025, the Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control (DACC) told Newsweek that its shelters had taken in 19 pets from families caught up in ICE raids in just a matter of weeks.Animals cannot go with their owners when they are arrested or deported, often leaving them behind and searching for safety.In this situation, it took Nasseri a while to win over the husky’s trust. Nonetheless, he didn’t stop trying to help and captured multiple videos of the dog, which he shared on TikTok to show the reality of animals left behind.The husky wasn’t alone either, as he was often accompanied by a pit bull who also roamed the streets. It is unclear whether the pit bull suffered the same fate as the husky, or if it was dumped.After several days, the husky and pit bull were finally caught, as Nasseri enlisted the help of professional trapper, Cathi Perez, to capture the husky. Unfortunately, Nasseri was struggling to find a long-term solution, especially as both dogs seemed fearful of people and the pit bull tested positive for the parasite giardia. Thankfully, Stacy Hope Rescue stepped in at the last minute and was able to keep the dogs together."We were able to move them both to a beautiful boarding facility where they are being seen by vets and they can be treated, vaccinated neutered and boarded properly. Once the pit bull recovers, he will go to @redemptiontails.llc for several weeks of professional training so he can safely transition into adoption," Nasseri said.Both dogs are searching for someone to foster or adopt them, as Nasseri hopes they could be adopted together. He told Newsweek that they have "a unique bond," and it would be wonderful for them to remain by each other’s side.In the meantime, Nasseri will continue sharing their journeys on social media to raise awareness and highlight the impact of ICE raids on pets. Many of the videos have gone viral with thousands of views on TikTok, including heartbreaking clips of the husky wandering the streets."Many rescues are seeing more dogs entering shelters that appear well cared for and groomed. It is clear something sudden happened to their families based on how they are coming in. Everything changes suddenly, and they are left confused, scared, and alone," Nasseri continued."I pray for every dog left behind, scared, and abandoned. Entering the shelter system can feel like a death sentence, so we need better systems in this country for those animals."Update 16/03/26, 11:18 a.m. ET: This article was updated with more information from Nasseri.Do you have any viral videos or pictures that you want to share? Send them in to life@newsweek.com and they could appear on our site.