“I couldn’t really tell what I had seen or what I was looking at.”
On a recent morning in Houston, Texas, Kristin Erwin was driving her son to speech therapy when she spotted an animal bobbing up and down in a leafy ditch. At first, she couldn’t identify what kind of animal it was.
“I couldn’t really tell what I had seen or what I was looking at,” Erwin told The Dodo.
When Erwin got closer, she realized the animal was actually a dog who desperately needed her help. She pulled over and tried to gently coax the dog toward her. It took some convincing, but eventually she was able to lift the pup into her van.
“She was really nervous,” Erwin said. “She was very timid. You could tell she wanted attention. She wanted to be friendly — she was a friendly dog, for sure.”
The first thing Erwin did after she took the dog home was try to find out who she belonged to. She scanned her for a microchip and posted her on local town pages, but no one claimed her. So Erwin named her Maddie and started getting her the care she needed.
Other than a cut on her leg, Maddie was healthy and doing well. Erwin got her cut treated at the vet, and it healed up in no time.
Within a week, Maddie’s anxiety had all but faded away. Erwin’s other dogs and her son helped put her at ease.
“She eats with everyone, and I think just having other dogs and even our kiddo has helped loosen her up and be more comfortable around us,” Erwin said.
Erwin has loved getting to know Maddie’s unique personality. Since settling in with Erwin, Maddie has developed a taste for the finer things in life.
“She loves toys, and she loves treats. I think all those positive things help a lot with her adjustment,” Erwin said.
Erwin connected with the people at Paddy’s Paws, an animal rescue in Wisconsin, who agreed to take Maddie on and help her find a loving home.
It’s unlikely she’ll be at the shelter long, though. She’s already had a few people express interest in adopting her. With a dog as sweet as Maddie, it’s not hard to see why. Before we know it, she’ll be safe and sound in her permanent home.
