Two Santa Clarita dogs have found foster parents through KHTS after their owner was found dead in a donation bin.

Banjo, 9, and Ripley, 11, were taken in by couple Laurie and Rob on Friday after the pair heard about the dogs through an article in the KHTS newsletter.

Ripley is pet by Laurie during their first meeting on Nov. 18, 2022 at the Castaic Animal Shelter. Laurie’s face is hidden to maintain anonymity. Zena Taher/KHTS News

The couple, who declined to provide their last names to avoid being identified, lost their Rottweiler last year.

They agreed to foster Banjo and Ripley after Rob read KHTS’s article. He took an immediate interest in the pets.

“My husband saw it and he starts talking to me about it,” Laurie said. “It’s completely out of character for him to respond so quickly.”

Banjo wanders around the lawn in front of the Castaic Animal Care Center on Nov. 18, 2022. Zena Taher/KHTS News

Rob and Laurie were struck by how the dogs had lost their owner and how little time they had left at the shelter.

“I just thought, ‘I’m sure that the dogs are probably taken care of by now, but what if I just reach out,’” Rob said.

The couple emailed dog trainer Alec Torres to express their interest in the dogs.

“She let us know that we were the only ones that would take both of them in,” Laurie said.

After meeting the dogs on Friday, both Laurie and Rob agreed they would probably end up adopting both pets.

Ripley (right) snacks on treats Laurie brought him, while Banjo (left) munches on grass on Nov. 18, 2022 at the Castaic Animal Care Center. Zena Taher/ KHTS News

First, they wanted to make sure Ripley and Banjo felt comfortable in their new home.

“We’ll know in a week or two, we’ll know if they’re a really good fit for us,” Laurie said, tearing up. “We’ll just make their lives good.”

The woman found in the donation bin has been identified as 58-year-old Anita Raphael from Santa Clarita.

KHTS FM 98.1 and AM 1220 is Santa Clarita’s only local radio station. KHTS mixes in a combination of news, traffic, sports, and features along with your favorite adult contemporary hits. Santa Clarita news and features are delivered throughout the day over our airwaves, on our website and through a variety of social media platforms. Our KHTS national award-winning daily news briefs are now read daily by 34,000+ residents. A vibrant member of the Santa Clarita community, the KHTS broadcast signal reaches all of the Santa Clarita Valley and parts of the high desert communities located in the Antelope Valley. The station streams its talk shows over the web, reaching a potentially worldwide audience. Follow @KHTSRadio on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.