Over the years, I’ve shared many stories about abandoned dogs and their journeys, but Maeve’s tale, one of both suffering and strength, is one that will always stay with me.
Left behind by those who should have cared for her, Maeve wandered the streets of Youngstown, Ohio, alone. She was a black dog, with no place to call home, no comfort to seek, and no one to lean on.
Surviving on whatever scraps she could find, Maeve spent her days searching for food to ease the hunger that gnawed at her. Her nights were filled with a constant, quiet fear.
Then, everything took a darker turn. Maeve was struck by a car, and in her moment of pain, no one stopped to offer help.
Injured and starving, Maeve made a painful decision: she would no longer trust anyone. The wounds they had left in her heart were too deep to ignore.
A Gentle Voice Begins To Break Through
Deputy Keith Stokes from the Mahoning County Dog Warden learned about the injured dog and tried multiple times to bring her in. 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.
Maeve continued to run from everyone, until one week later, she crossed paths with police officer Megan Feidler.
Feidler was devastated by Maeve’s condition. The dog was painfully thin, limping, and clearly in distress.
Soon after, Deputy Stokes arrived. Together, they managed to corner Maeve. Seeing how terrified she was of him, Stokes stepped back and let Feidler take the lead.
Feidler sat down on the ground and began speaking softly, hoping to calm Maeve’s nerves.
The frightened dog stared at her, eyes full of uncertainty. After a long pause, Maeve made her choice: she would trust this stranger.
“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 placed it around Maeve’s neck. The exhausted dog was carried to the van. As soon as she settled in, she closed her eyes.
A Rescue Team Rallies Around Her
Friends of Fido Animal Rescue, a nonprofit based in Youngstown, welcomed Maeve with open arms and rushed her to the vet.
The medical team quickly realized how serious her condition was.
Maeve’s rescuers grew more concerned when she refused to eat or drink. Her breathing was labored, and she had to be placed on oxygen.
Fluids were administered through an IV, and everyone hoped she would begin to recover.
While the veterinary staff worked around the clock, Maeve’s supporters stayed close. They held her gently and whispered words of encouragement.
“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 their efforts, Maeve’s condition worsened.
After several days of fighting, Maeve passed away, leaving behind a trail of broken hearts.
Her life had been filled with hardship, but in her final days, she experienced love, comfort, and peace. Maeve left this world surrounded by kindness, finally free from pain and fear.
Her rescuers and friends will never forget her, and their gratitude for the time they shared with her runs deep.