In 2015, Melissa became a foster mom and has since fostered about 56 children. Their ages ranged from babies to young children ages 5 and under. But the last four children she fostered were special and would later become her own adopted children. 

“I was single and I was just [like], ‘Why not? Let’s do it,'” Melissa shared. “‘Let’s try to help kids who really don’t have a safe place to call home.'” Melissa is mom to Jade, who is 8, Destiny, who is 6, Matthew, who is 4, and Emerson, who is 2. Melissa adopted sisters Jade (2-and-a-half at the time) and Destiny (16 months old) first. Then, she got Matthew and Emerson when they were days old from the hospital. Melissa admits that she didn’t set out to be a mom of four, but she was determined to keep the siblings together. And the bond the siblings have is “unbreakable.” 

“Actually, I did not see myself as a single mom of four, maybe two, you know,” Melissa told Good Morning America. “But there was no way I could let the boys go to someone else and be away from their siblings. There’s no way.” She admits that both fostering and the adoption process is a grueling journey, but, if anyone is up for it, they should do it! As someone who has both fostered and adopted, Melissa said both experiences come with ups and down, noting that her children go to therapy for trauma they have experienced as at a young age. 

“Adoption and foster care does pull on your heartstrings,” Melissa said. “But at the same time, you know you’re doing something and you’re helping that child in the moment that they need you the most.” 

She encourages other single families to consider adoption as well. She said online communities have been a great support system for her in addition to her parents and friends. More than anything, Melissa is grateful for her motherhood journey. Turns out it was a win-win for all! 

“This has been [to] my benefit too because I became a mom; a forever mom, said Melissa. “I have in my opinion the best children in the world. I wouldn’t trade anything for that. I want them to remember that I picked them. I didn’t have to raise them but I chose to be their mom.”
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  Image/Story Source Credit: Sidewalk Specials via YouTube Video
All of her bad days are now behind her. Molly snored through the first sound sleep after Sidewalk Specials rescued her. She may finally get a good night’s rest knowing that she will never be beaten again. 

Today, Molly looks like a whole different dog. She received treatments for her skin condition, and all of her beautiful white furs grew back. She has since been adopted and wears a permanent smile on her face. When Molly’s mother first laid eyes on her, she felt an immediate connection. She knew she had to open herself up and let this adorable girl pup into her life. Molly now has a pillowy bed to sleep in and canine siblings to play with. 

You’re going to LOVE to watch Molly’s INCREDIBILE transformation in the video below. And, be sure to watch it ALL the way until the end, it’s truly AMAZING! ❤️

 

  Lucy, a Labradoodle, had only been in her new apartment for approximately two months, but she was already overburdened. This forced her to flee and find herself in a precarious predicament. 

Eventually, Lucy appeared on a floating ice block in the Detroit River. Too scared to move, she just stood there, frozen in place. If no one had seen her and been ready to help, she would have suffered. But help was on its way, thank God. 

When one of her neighbors saw that she was stuck on the chunks of ice, they quickly called 911. They responded so quickly that Lucy’s life was spared. The eighty-pound dog was found between forty and fifty feet out from the coast. Chief of Wyandotte County Police Archie Hamilton said that if it hadn’t been for that, the dog would have frozen or drowned. Hamilton made the 911 call. Officials chose to get in touch with the US Coast Guard because the dog was close to the water. 

But when the Wyandotte firemen got there, they had other ideas about how to save Lucy. Derek Azzopi, a firefighter, lowered himself via a rope that the rescuers had fastened to the boat. His lower body was in the water while he sat on the ladder, dressed in an insulating suit. Just a few steps separated Azzораrdi from the traumatized dog. The dog refuses to bend and lies flat on the ice cube. 

Thus, Azzораrdi leashed the dog using a collar and gently brought her closer. Lucy was hesitant to go near the freezing water at first, but as soon as Azzopardi held her in his arms, she relaxed enough that he could tenderly bring her to safety. 

According to Tom Lyon, the assistant fire chief for Wyandotte, “it turned out really well.” She couldn’t talk, and her big brown eyes probably only showed how grateful she was. Each year, Wyandotte firemen are called out to save one or two dogs. Firefighters are always fast to save the day in perilous circumstances like these because they understand that pets are members of the family.

 
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In the midst of this unbearable heat, a group of resilient cyclists, who dared to venture out, discovered a koala exhibiting signs of severe thirst and heat exhaustion, with temperatures already soaring well above 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Another touching incident involved a husband and wife who, while cycling on an extremely hot day, stumbled upon a koala, seemingly lethargic and barely able to move, by the roadside. The scorching temperatures had evaporated nearby water bodies and left a scarcity of eucalyptus trees from which the koala could extract the much-needed moisture. 

The man, seeing the koala in distress, knelt down in the sparse shade provided by the trees and extended water to the suffering animal. They even arranged a basin filled with water in hopes that the koala could cool off its paws. 

The koala, while gulping down the refreshing water, reached out and clung to the man’s hand, seemingly expressing its gratitude for the life-saving gesture. The man, moved by the koala’s response, persisted in offering more water to the grateful creature. 

“This sweet little koala drank endlessly from a water bottle while we were doing our best to encourage it to move toward the sink we provided so it could cool its paws in the water,” he recounted. The emotional and profound connection between the man and the wild animal is beautifully encapsulated in a video below. 

It shows the profound impact of kindness and compassion and is a reminder of the delicate bond that exists between humans and the creatures with whom we share our world. It’s a simple yet powerful illustration of the beauty inherent in acts of kindness and the unspoken bond it can create between species. 

 Watch the touching footage of the man helping the overheated koala in the video below.

 
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  But Zach, though initially wary, changed when Lily arrived. Both dogs gathered around the baby and doted on her. To his parents’ surprise, Zach couldn’t resist Lily’s charm and licked her face gently as if he were officially welcoming her to their family with his giant doggy heart. 

From then on, Zach became more than a pet– he became a vigilant protector. Beside his baby girl, he’d stretch out, one paw delicately placed on her tiny body. Their bond grew, and Zach became her faithful companion, always staying close to her. As Lily grew into a little girl, Zach knew when it was bedtime and waited for her at the stairs, thumping his tail. He’d nudge her gently, and they’d ascend to her room. 

Zach stood guard as she slept, protecting her and making sure she knew his loving presence was never far away. Then tragedy struck when Zach heartbreakingly crossed the Rainbow Bridge. Their other dog, Sam, the quiet and patient soul, stepped up as a hero. 

A sad Lily hesitated at the stairs, reflecting fear and longing with tears in her eyes. She so desperately missed her bedtime buddy. Sam, having observed the routine, stood up. With a gentle nudge and a soulful gaze, he promised the little girl that he would be there for her now. He placed his paw on the first step and turned to her. 

An unspoken understanding passed between them. Together, Lily and Sam ascended the stairs. While Sam knew he would never replace Zach, he was honored to fill in for his beloved canine brother because he loved that little girl too. 

From then on, Sam faithfully waited at the stairs every night for his favorite time with his precious angel, guiding her to bed and watching over her as she slept.

 
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  Dr. Ernie Ward sets out to show just how cold it gets in a dog house at night. He’s a firm believer that if this video can save the life of one animal, then it was worth it for him to subject himself to the experiment. Only a half hour in at 25 degrees Fahrenheit, he’s already experiencing bits of shivering. And above his head on the ceiling of the dog house, he notices ice crystals are forming. 

An hour in he says, “At this level, for a prolonged exposure, no dog is biologically adapted to handle this.” After four hours in the dog house, it’s down to 15 degrees Fahrenheit, and Dr. Ward’s hands are completely numb and he’s experiencing a lot of uncontrolled shivering. I think he says it best with this line: “Our responsibility is to provide the best quality of life for the animals we love and cherish — and this ain’t it!”

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The deer was desperately trying to free himself but every time the deer tried to run away, the rope would pull the deer off the ground and into the air. The buck was so stressed it was dangerous to approach him so the men came up with a strategy to tire the deer out. 

The deer must have run back and forth 50 times before he made a misstep and one of the men was able to grab hold of him while the other cut the rope. The man who got a hold of the deer turns out to be a wrestler and puts the deer in a “tight waist” hold against the tree.

  He and his friends said it didn’t occur to them to kill the deer as it would have been taking unfair advantage of the animal. 

Within seconds of getting free, the deer ran off into the woods, no doubt exhausted from his ordeal, but alive thanks to the efforts of these three men.
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He immediately pulled off the road, and as soon as R2 saw him, the puppy ran right into his arms. Roger put R2 in the car, and the little dog immediately lay in his lap and went to sleep, showing an incredible level of trust in his rescuer. This was the beginning of an inspiring journey for R2, who would soon find a loving forever home and leave his traumatic past behind. R2 was in poor shape when Roger found him, covered in ticks and fleas. Roger immediately called his wife back, telling her to contact their vet to give R2 the best chance at a healthy life. The vet revealed that R2 had spent his entire life in a crate, which explained his unusual behavior and physical issues. 

Despite his past, R2 quickly adapted to his new life. In just a week and a half, he began to look like a regular, happy pup, enjoying his first taste of peanut butter and learning to walk on grass without fear. R2’s new parents signed him up for physical therapy to help with his flat feet, which resulted from the time he spent in a crate. R2’s incredible adaptability and resilience continue to amaze his new family. He quickly formed a special bond with Roger and his daughter, wagging his tail and smiling whenever they entered the room. 

R2 is also great with other animals, making him a perfect addition to the family’s existing group of rescued pets. Roger’s wife knew from the start that there was no way they could let R2 go, and soon enough, he was officially adopted as their fourth dog. 

The family continues to work on R2’s physical therapy and help him become more comfortable with new experiences, like going to Home Depot or sleeping in a bed for the first time. This heartwarming story of R2’s rescue and transformation serves as a reminder of the power of love and compassion. 

With the help of his doting family, R2 was able to overcome his past and embrace a bright future filled with cuddles, adventures, and, of course, plenty of peanut butter.

 
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  The bus driver explained that he saw an unexpected package at a bus stop. The team then drove to the scene to see the box in question. The package was sitting just by the metal benches. The play was empty and dark and you could only imagine how someone would feel if they were left in a similar place. Then, a head pops out from the box. It was a black puppy that must’ve heard the rescuers’ vehicle. Then there’s another puppy that peeked out. This one, meanwhile, was white. 

The rescuers quickly investigated the puppies. While they were briefed by the bus driver about the situation, no one really knew how long the puppies had been sitting out there in the cold.

The puppy pad that lined the bottom of the box also suggests that the act was deliberate. Upon further investigation, the rescuers confirmed that both puppies were female – just like their first suspicion. 

According to them, female puppies are abandoned more often because it’s more expensive to spay them. Fortunately, the two puppies still seemed to be in good spirits. Their fur is matted with a mix of debris and dirt. They weren’t emaciated, however, and they were very curious and friendly. The puppies were then given their new names. The black one was named Mia, and the white puppy was named Leya. Their rehabilitation started immediately upon rescue. First, the puppies were given some water and food. They ate with so much gusto that the rescuers thought they must’ve not eaten for days. They were also given their first bath but regular shampoo just wouldn’t do the job. They were then taken to a grooming salon to get them cleaned thoroughly. 

The puppies looked so different after the bath! They look like they’ve been loved and taken care of for a very long time and it was the life that their rescuers envisioned for them. As if the total makeover wasn’t enough, the rescuers even bought Mia and Leya some toys. They said these must be the first toys they enjoyed in their lives. Now, the rescuers hope that the puppies get their forever homes. 

They are asking viewers from around the world for donations. Proceeds will go to rescue resources such as food, water, medicine, and other fees needed to give these dogs a second lease on life.

 

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“Thank you to the bus driver who took the time to call a proper rescue for these two cuties. And thank you to all involved for their rescue and care.” Said one comment, “You’re all angels.” 

 Watch how two puppies were rescued from a dark bus stop.

 
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Lana was abandoned and left to fend for herself on the unforgiving streets. For her, every day was a fight for survival, a relentless cycle of hunger, fear, and isolation. She shared her meager meals with fellow strays, forming an unspoken bond with those who understood her plight. But then, Lana’s luck turned. Volunteers from a local shelter found Lana and took her away from the harsh life she was becoming accustomed to. They were determined to find her a home where she felt safe and loved. Lana was a sweet dog despite living life on the streets. 

A family with a baby met Lana and decided to adopt her. Upon bringing Lana home, however, the sweet dog’s demeanor changed. When her mom nursed her human baby sister, she began to growl. In fear for their safety, they felt they had no other choice but to return her to the shelter. Lana was put in the same shelter kennel, looking defeated. The staff had no choice but to put her on the euthanasia list because of her aggressive behavior. But then, fate intervened again. A family experienced in dog training stepped forward, willing to foster Lana and work on her behavioral problems. The family believed that with proper training and patience, Lana could change. But after a short period of time, they too gave up and brought Lana back to the shelter, claiming she didn’t get along with their other pets and she resisted being touched by her new humans. 

Her photos continued to circulate the internet, and applications came pouring in. But the shelter staff was understandably concerned that she would be adopted once again and then returned. They screened the potential adopters, praying they would find her perfect fit. Thankfully, during the screening process, Lana was removed from the euthanasia list. She eventually found her forever home, where she is now living happily as the only pet, without children. While dogs like Lana are challenging to place, her story is proof that ALL dogs, no matter their behavioral issues, deserve a second chance!

 
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