Joshua Rubin was recently driving near Knysna, South Africa, when he spotted a senior golden retriever on the side of the road. The dog seemed like she was in trouble, so Rubin and his friend, Daniel, immediately pulled over to help.
“Seeing a golden retriever
in that condition, wandering along the side of a highway, was also something you don’t come across very often in South Africa,” Rubin told The Dodo.
As soon as Rubin and Daniel got out of the car, the dog trusted them instantly. Somehow, she seemed to sense that they were there to help her.
“[S]he came running straight towards us,” Rubin said.
Rubin and Daniel knew they couldn’t just leave a senior dog out there by herself. Even though they were in the middle of a long road trip across the entire country, they decided to bring the pup along with them.
“[W]hen [the dog] came along, she became the third member of our little team,” Rubin said. “And the amazing thing was how naturally she fitted in with us.”
The pup was covered in ticks and had severely matted fur. Her new caretakers gave her a nice bath and took her to the vet for a thorough checkup.
A microchip scan revealed that the dog’s name was Mia, she was 11 years old, and she had been missing for seven weeks. Mia’s dad had passed away, and his family had been doing their best to care for her.
“It was obviously a difficult and emotional decision for them, but after talking everything through, we all agreed that the best thing for Mia would be to stay with us rather than have to move and adjust to another home again,” Rubin said.
Once Rubin found out Mia was available, the decision to adopt her was a no-brainer.
“Mia is honestly one of the sweetest dogs I’ve ever met,” Rubin said. “She’s incredibly gentle, affectionate and loving, and she’s especially wonderful with children.”
Mia’s vets found that she had several cancerous masses, and Rubin was deeply concerned. But with her new dad’s support, Mia got the surgery she needed, and her recovery is going smoothly.
After the road trip ended, Rubin brought Mia home with him, and she instantly got along well with his other rescue dogs and the rest of his family. Now that Mia is a permanent member of Rubin’s household, he can’t imagine his life without her.
“She’s settled in beautifully, and everyone absolutely adores her,” Rubin said. “It’s amazing how quickly she’s become such a special part of our lives.”
