This dog was just hours from being put down. Then she met a little boy who changed everything

Every year, countless animals, especially those abandoned by their owners because of old age or prolonged health-related issues, enter shelter homes worldwide. To offer them a second shot at life, the animal shelters put them up for adoption, hoping that they would find compassionate people who would provide them with the love and care they deserve. However, not all animals, particularly those with behavioral issues, are adopted. While some find their forever happy homes, others are put to sleep because of space-constrained issues. On a related note, Maya, possibly a stray dog, rescued by Jasper's Legacy (@jasperslegacyrescue), a non-profit foster-based shelter home, was also scheduled to be euthanized. But, just in time, a foster home stepped in to rescue her, and what happened later is just unbelievable.

When Maya entered the shelter, she was a completely different pup. She was so scared that she didn't let anyone touch her, hence she couldn't be taken for walks. However, with time, she became a little comfortable and "allowed the staff to carry her out." The shelter shared that because of her "fearful behavior," she couldn't be adopted and was scheduled to be euthanized. "As an open intake shelter that legally can't turn dogs away, space is frequently an issue, and less adoptable dogs are the first to be euthanized to make room for more," the rescue team shared. Fortunately, just in time, a foster home offered to take Maya, and the shelter home immediately halted her euthanization.

"Not even 24 hours after being rescued, Maya is a different dog," the shelter home revealed, hinting at her special bond with a child of the family that fostered the pup. She just grew more confident and lively, as the child became her comfort, and their endless playtime made her heart flutter. Though Maya was lucky to be rescued just in time, not all dogs get to experience that. According to Shelter Animal Count, 334,000 canines were euthanized in 2024, in the United States alone. If only we had more people like Kayla and her son, the family that fostered Maya, the world would be a better place for all pups.

The heartwarming video of Maya received an overwhelming response on social media, leaving people teary-eyed. Echoing the sentiments, @mistywarren79 commented, "This made me cry. Thank you for saving her. Look at that girl go! We were so close to losing her. Fostering truly saves lives." Similarly, another user who goes by @red2020dog on TikTok prayed for all neglected animals across the globe and wrote, "Praying for all abused and forgotten animals in the world. We can be better than this. They deserve to be protected and treated with love and respect. God bless them all. Please adopt if you can. You will be blessed, and they bring so much joy and happiness to your life, always loyal and happy to see you."

Someone else who goes by @lisamalin202 on the platform shared, "Her little hop run at the end, so she isn't going faster than those kids! Wherever she lands, she needs to be with kids!"

Meanwhile, the foster-based shelter that had rescued Maya shared another video of the dog spending quality time with her 'favorite' child. In the heartfelt clip, Maya showered countless wet kisses, as if she had known him for years. At one point, Maya lay down on the child's lap, and his wagging tail, perhaps, hinted at how much she loved her human companion. "When we rescued Maya on Friday from being euthanized for space at the country shelter, we knew she would turn out to be a good girl. We just didn't expect THIS," the animal rescue wrote in the caption.

You can follow @jasperslegacyrescue on TikTok for more foster dog-related content.