Upon hearing about a Malinois mix named Mary who was in urgent need of a home, Doug and Michelle Christian instantly decided to foster her temporarily.
Although the couple already had two dogs that they had adopted after fostering, they were convinced Mary would only stay with them until she found a permanent loving home.
Foster Pup
The couple reiterated several times that Mary would only be in their care as a foster.
“Doug made it clear, saying, ‘We’ll take her in, but this is just fostering,’” recounted Terri Fox, the founder of Foxy and the Hounds, during an interview with The Dodo.
To their astonishment, Mary bonded instantly with her new furry siblings upon her arrival.
Although Doug tried to maintain a facade of disinterest, the rest of the family embraced Mary as if she had always been part of their lives.
“I acted like I was emotionally detached, but deep down, I wanted nothing more than to adopt her,” Doug confessed to The Dodo.
In just a few weeks, Mary became a cherished member of the Christian family.
Secret Plan
With Mary in their lives, Doug quickly realized he couldn’t imagine life without her, so he began hinting to Michelle about the possibility of adopting her, hoping she would support the idea.
What Doug didn’t know was that Michelle was already in the process of arranging the adoption with Fox.
“She reached out to me, saying, ‘Doug adores Mary, and Mary adores Doug. I want to surprise him this Christmas,’” Fox shared.
Once Michelle confirmed that Mary was officially their dog, she devised a plan to wrap the adoption documents and a new tag in a festive red box, placing it under the Christmas tree labeled for Doug.
When Doug got to unwrap his gifts on Christmas morning, he was overwhelmed with emotion as he realized what he received.
“The moment I laid eyes on the folded adoption papers and saw the tag with her name customized on it, I broke down. That was my only Christmas wish,” Doug recalled.
With tears of joy on his face, Doug embraced Mary in a heartfelt hug, and this sweet pup was equally thrilled.
It was hard to say who was happier at that moment, Doug or Mary.
Final Word
As the days passed, their happiness remained as bright as it was on that special Christmas day.
Mary now revels in her days within a warm and loving home, treasured by their family, while Doug enjoys life with three furry companions making every moment worthwhile.
And that truly is a wonderful way to live!
