A lost and exhausted dog found in the California hills gets a second chance at life and love after a kind family steps in.
Found In The Oakland Hills
When a family discovered a stray dog wandering through the Oakland Hills in California, they knew they had to help. The poor pup, a beautiful Malinois, was incredibly scared and timid.
Josey’s dad was the first to spot her, and the family quickly took her in to see how she was doing. They immediately started asking around to see if anyone was missing their pet.
But it was clear from the start that this dog had been on her own for a while. She would immediately go find a quiet corner where she felt safe.
A Desperate Need For Rest
The physical toll of being lost was evident. The hair on her bottom area was heavily matted, leading her rescuers to believe she had been laying down for a long period of time.
Once she was finally inside and safe, her body just gave out. She was so incredibly tired.
In fact, the exhausted dog slept for almost two days straight, finally able to rest without fear.
Learning How To Be A Dog
As she started to wake up and adjust, the family noticed some heartbreaking details. It seemed like she had never even had a treat before.
She didn’t know what to do with them, and she seemed like she had never played with dog toys, either.
Everything was a brand-new experience for her, but she was in gentle hands.
Searching For An Owner
The family named her Mali and took her to get checked out, only to realize she didn’t have a microchip. They tried everything to find her original family.
They looked on Nextdoor, checked with the local SPCA, and posted online.
Sadly, no one had posted about her, and no one responded to claim the sweet dog.
A Special Bond With Grandma
With no owners in sight, Mali settled into foster life and quickly found her favorite people. She felt incredibly safe with Josey’s grandma.
Mali loved being around her, even when Grandma was just doing her work. They would have little moments of play throughout the day.
When Grandma was cooking, Mali loved being right there in the kitchen with her, building a relationship based on mutual love and respect.
The Escape Artist
Mali also formed a deep attachment to Josey’s dad when she went to stay with him. She would follow him everywhere, constantly looking for him.
One day, her dad went to the bathroom and accidentally left her out on the deck. Mali, proving to be quite the escape artist, managed to get out of the gate.
But she didn’t run away. For about 10 minutes, she frantically paced left and right outside the house, just trying to get back inside to find him.
A Difficult Decision
Once Mali got comfortable, her true personality really started to shine. The family fell in love with her and seriously considered adopting her themselves.
However, Josey already had a dog at home who was reactive, making it an unsafe long-term situation for everyone.
Knowing they couldn’t keep her, they started looking for the perfect alternative home where Mali could thrive.
Meeting Her Match
That’s when things perfectly fell into place with an adopter named Chuck. Chuck came over to Grandma’s house to meet Mali, and the connection was instant.
Everyone was surprised by how quickly the timid dog warmed up to him. She walked right up and just wanted Chuck to hug her.
It was a fantastic match. As Chuck noted, sometimes dogs just pick you out, and Mali had finally found the forever home she deserved.