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saw a post on her Ring app about a dog tied to a light post in a local park. Animal Control had been contacted, but no one had responded, and with the cold weather, Mara worried for the dog’s safety.
She went to look for her, walking through the park multiple times until she noticed a small shape on the ground that she initially thought was a bag, but it was Maggie, curled up in a tight ball, trying to stay warm. She was thin, dehydrated, and exhausted, but friendly, allowing Mara to leash her and bring her home.
Maggie has been living with Mara, her partner, their dog, and a cat for the past seven weeks. During her first week, she slept a lot and was fed small, frequent meals to help her regain strength. It was clear she had recently had puppies and was also dealing with skin infections that needed treatment. After multiple vet visits, her skin issues have nearly fully resolved, her beautiful chocolate-brown coat is filling in, and she’s gaining weight and muscle.
Today, Maggie is a completely different dog. She’s come out of her shell and now shows the healthy energy of the young dog she is. She’s learned good house manners, is both house- and crate-trained, and has adapted well to being part of a pack. Maggie does well with the resident dog but is not a good fit with cats. We also brought in a trainer to work on her leash skills, and she’s made steady, positive progress.
At first, everything was exciting and new for Maggie, but with continued exposure, she has learned to navigate new social situations. She does well meeting visitors and joins her foster parents on outings, including trips to Home Depot. She recently attended a family holiday gathering where she did great with everyone.
We checked in with her foster mom, Mara, for an update:
"Magnolia is such a sweetheart and so loving. She is a naturally friendly, social pup who is always seeking love and affection. Sometimes she even thinks she’s a lap dog. She’s an active girl who’s always ready to go and do, but she’s also learned how to settle indoors and is just as happy lounging on the couch for a movie night.
Adjusting from her previous living situation (unknown) to life inside a home took a little time, but she’s absolutely loving it now. Magnolia loves the comforts of home and is a total cuddle bug who wants to be right by your side.
We’re currently working on basic commands like “sit” and helping her build impulse control, balanced with playtime with her stuffies and cozy crate naps. She’s shown no signs of reactivity toward people or other dogs, and no resource guarding. She does, however, have a prey drive and is very interested in squirrels and other critters.”
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We think Maggie would thrive in an active home and would love a canine companion of similar size and energy to play with. She’ll do best with an owner who has large-dog experience and is committed to providing structure and continuing her training so she can keep progressing. Maggie is an incredibly sweet girl who will make a loyal, loving companion.
Apply today!
BREED ESTIMATE: American Staffordshire Terrier Mix (Maybe some Boxer)
GENDER: Female
APPROXIMATE WEIGHT: 50 lbs
APPROXIMATE AGE: ~ 2 years old
COAT TYPE: Short coat
ADOPTION FEE: $425.00
OTHER INFO: utd on shots/will be spayed and microchipped
LOCATION: Temple Hills, MD
FOR MORE INFO OR TO ADOPT: Please go to adopt.worthydog and complete the application.
You can also help save dogs like this one by becoming a foster, providing a rescue dog with a temporary home and giving them the love and care they need until they are permanently adopted. Every person who fosters is directly responsible for saving the life of a dog, because we can only save as many dogs as we have foster families available to welcome them into their homes. If you think you might be interested in becoming a foster and want to learn more, please go to foster.worthydog and fill out an application.
Worthy Dog Rescue is an all-volunteer, foster-based rescue that primarily adopts to families in the DC Metro area.