That morning was much like every other one. Kristin Erwin, from Houston, Texas, was getting ready to take her son to a speech therapist, and she didn’t believe that anything shocking could happen along the way.
However, it was the exact opposite because at one point, while they were driving, she suddenly saw a white dot in a ditch, by the side of the road. She didn’t think twice but immediately stopped the car to investigate.
Since she already assumed what it was, she couldn’t just walk by and leave this helpless being stranded.
Sweetest Surprise
It was not long before Kristin realized that the sweetest surprise was hiding in the ditch. This white animal was a dog, more precisely, a beautiful Labrador Retriever.
Since the poor canine was quite terrified, Kristin decided not to come closer to her but to try to lure her gently.
It was a good decision because, after some convincing, the dog came out of the ditch and went toward her.
“She was really nervous,” Kristin said in an interview. “She was very timid. You could tell she wanted attention. She wanted to be friendly — she was a friendly dog, for sure.”
@streetheartstx I was taking my kid to school when I saw a dog in the ditch. She looked hot and I was worried she was hurt. She took a little coaxing but eventually came cowering over. She is just a pup and the sweetest thing! Looks like she got hung up on a fence and sliced her arm open. We grabbed an appointment for tomorrow. We are calling her Maddie 🤍
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As soon as Kristin saw that the dog relaxed enough, she lured her inside the car and drove her home. Immediately after they came, Kristin tried to find out whether this dog belonged to anyone.
She scanned her for a microchip and even posted her on local pages, but no one called.
Then, Kristin decided that she would give her a temporary home, and she named her Maddie.
Doing Great In A Foster Home
Soon after Maddie arrived at her new foster home, Kristin examined her in order to see if she was suffering from some more severe injury or something similar.
Luckily, there was nothing serious to worry about except a minor cut on her leg.
Even that was resolved quickly since Kristin immediately took Maddie to the vet, who treated her wound, which healed in no time.
Maddie was still nervous and withdrawn for a while as she suddenly found herself in an unfamiliar environment. However, with the help of Kristin and her son, as well as their other dogs and a cat, she managed to overcome her anxiety.
Soon after, Maddie started showing her true colors.
She revealed her unique personality and 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,” Kristin said.
Kristin was delighted with Maddie and had already fallen in love with this dog. That’s exactly why she felt evil, that she could only be her foster mom.
Happy Ending On The Way
Since Maddie was the 38th foster pup in Kristin’s care that year alone, she could only give her a warm home temporarily; however, she didn’t want to give up on her so quickly because this dog indeed won her heart.
Maddie quickly contacted people from Paddy’s Paws, a rescue organization located in Fort Atkins, Wisconsin. She managed to arrange for them to take care of Maddie and try to find her a forever home.
There’s no doubt that this sweet furry girl from the ditch won’t be staying there for long. Considering that there is already a lot of interest in Maddie, it is only a matter of time before someone falls in love with her, just like Kristin did, and gives her the happy ending she deserves.
A New Chapter Begins
As days turned into weeks, Maddie’s personality blossomed even more. She became more playful and confident each day. The initial fear faded away as she learned what it meant to be loved and cared for.
Kristin often shared stories about Maddie’s antics with friends and family. “She has this goofy side,” she’d laugh while recounting how Maddie would chase after squirrels or play tug-of-war with their other pets.
The bond between them deepened as they spent time together exploring local parks or simply lounging on the couch during movie nights. Every moment felt special as they created memories together.
Hope for Tomorrow
While Kristin knew fostering meant eventually saying goodbye, she cherished every second with Maddie. Each wag of Maddie’s tail reminded her of how far they had come together.
Kristin hoped that soon someone would see Maddie’s spirit and want to adopt her forever. “She deserves all the love in the world,” she’d often say while petting Maddie’s soft fur.
In every way possible, Maddie’s journey from being lost in a ditch to finding warmth and affection showed just how transformative love can be—not just for dogs but for humans as well.
