Madeline Smith, a seasoned foster carer and shelter volunteer, was ending her shift when she felt an unexplained urge to turn around.
There, she saw Maya, a dog not even on her care list, standing at the bars of her kennel, tail wagging and eyes pleading.
Euthanasia list
“I couldn’t stop thinking about her,” said Smith, who initially wasn’t planning to take on another foster. When she later discovered Maya had been added to the euthanasia list, she knew she had to act.
With Smith away on a short trip, a fellow volunteer stepped in to temporarily foster Maya. The pup quickly bonded with the family, especially their young son. Upon Smith’s return, Maya moved in with her and fit seamlessly into her home, alongside her cat, Barry, and dog, Margot.
Something different about Maya
Though Smith had fostered 54 dogs before, none had ever stayed. But Maya was different. On Mother’s Day, Smith’s husband surprised her with Maya’s adoption papers.
Now, Maya is thriving in her new life, cuddling her mum’s baby bump and reminding her family daily why she was worth breaking all the rules for.
