Some encounters are destined to happen.
When Madeline, a Texas foster who had already cared for more than fifty dogs, first met Maya, she sensed their connection was different.
But at that moment, Madeline was already overwhelmed with her responsibilities and could not act. As Maya lifted herself on her hind legs and fixed her with a pleading gaze from behind the kennel door, Madeline walked away, heart heavy.
Neither knew this was just the beginning of their story.
A Connection That Could Not Be Ignored
That evening, Madeline could not get Maya out of her mind. Despite being confined in an overcrowded shelter, Maya still wagged her tail and met her eyes with a gentle, trusting expression.
“I tried to keep walking but she was so squinty eyed and thumping her tail so shyly that I reluctantly backtracked and obviously immediately fell in love,” the Texas volunteer shared via the Bark About It Rescue post.
Soon after, Madeline learned that Maya was scheduled for euthanasia. At that moment, she knew she had to intervene.
Because she was preparing to leave town, Madeline reached out to a fellow volunteer, Amairany, asking her to foster Maya until she returned.
In a matter of days, the Pittie who had been only hours away from losing her life was safe. She joined Madeline and Jerred at their home, where their other dog, Margot, welcomed her.
The reunion was full of joy. Maya adjusted almost instantly, blending into the household as if she had always been there. For Madeline, the thought of letting her go when the foster period ended was heartbreaking.
But as a foster parent to dozens of dogs before, she reminded herself of the countless others still waiting for a chance.
A Husband’s Surprise Changes Everything
Madeline agonized over the choice of sending Maya back to the rescue or keeping her permanently. While she struggled with the decision, her husband, Jerred, quietly made one of his own.
According to Madeline’s Instagram post, Jerred appeared at home with a small box containing a collar engraved with Maya’s name. He had secretly completed the adoption to spare Madeline the pain of deciding.
Tears followed immediately.
“After many discussions and cry sessions from Madeline, her husband, Jerred, decided he’d make the decision so she wouldn’t have to and gave us a call. Jerred secretly officially adopted Maya,” the rescue wrote on Facebook.
Madeline was overwhelmed with relief and joy when she realized Maya was no longer a foster, but her dog.
“Jerred had to bear with me crying about it for weeks, and knew I was never really at peace with letting her go. I told him that whether we kept her or sent her, I just wanted it to be his fault L O L, so he made the decision so I didn’t have to 😭 and I am so glad he did,” Madeline shared on Instagram.
Finally, the tears of sorrow turned into tears of happiness.
Now Maya is thriving in her forever home. She spends her days playing, cuddling, adventuring, and enjoying life alongside her canine sister. After facing death in the shelter, she has found the home she was always meant to have.