I have written many stories about abandoned dogs and their struggles, but Maeve’s heartbreaking journey is one I will never forget.
Someone cruel left the pup, who deserved love like any other dog, on the streets of Youngstown.
With no other option, the lonely black dog wandered around, searching for scraps of food to ease her hunger.
Tragically, Maeve was later struck by a car and no one came to her aid.
Though she was severely injured and starving, Maeve chose not to trust people anymore. Humans had let her down and hurt her too many times.
Finding Calm
When Deputy Keith Stokes of the Mahoning County Dog Warden learned about the frightened dog, he tried many times to capture her, but Maeve always kept her distance.
“…He had tried repeatedly, but she would never let him get close to her,” Megan Zarlenga of the Mahoning County Dog Warden told The Dodo.
The injured dog kept running from everyone until, a week later, she encountered police officer Megan Feidler.
Feidler was heartbroken to see Maeve in such poor condition. She was all skin and bones, and she limped badly.
Not long after, Deputy Stokes arrived too. Together with officer Feidler, they managed to corner Maeve.
Seeing how afraid she was of him, Stokes allowed Feidler to take the lead.
The kind officer sat down on the ground and began softly speaking to Maeve, trying to ease her fear.
The nervous dog stared at Feidler with her soulful eyes, as if weighing whether she could trust her. After some time, Maeve finally placed her trust in her.
“I felt so sad for her. She was obviously scared and very skinny. Eventually, she laid down next to me, and I’m just talking to her and petting her, letting her know it’s OK,” Feidler told The Dodo.
Stokes handed Feidler a leash, and she gently slipped it over Maeve’s neck.
The exhausted pup was carried to the van. As soon as she lay down, she closed her eyes.
Maeve’s Struggle
Friends of Fido Animal Rescue, a non-profit group in Youngstown, welcomed Maeve into their care and immediately took her to the vet.
The examination revealed just how serious her condition was.
Her rescuers and the veterinary staff grew even more worried when Maeve refused both food and water.
The team began giving her fluids through an IV. Because she struggled to breathe, Maeve was also placed on oxygen.
Everyone prayed she would begin eating on her own and that her lungs would heal.
While the vets worked tirelessly to save her, Maeve’s friends stayed with her. They held her close and encouraged her not to give up.
“We need her to feel good again. We need her to know that she is loved more than she can imagine…more than she ever has been,” the shelter wrote on Facebook.
Despite the medical team’s efforts, Maeve’s condition continued to decline.
After several days of fighting, Maeve passed away, leaving everyone who cared for her heartbroken.
Although her life was far too short, she left this world knowing love and kindness. Maeve is now free from pain and fear in doggy heaven.
Gratitude goes out to her rescuers and the dedicated friends who stood by her until the very end.