It was after sunset when seventeen-year-old Maya spotted a fluffy golden retriever wandering near the edge of the woods outside her neighbourhood. His fur was matted, his tail was tucked, and a dirty collar hung around his neck. The dog looked lost and exhausted.
Maya, who had just returned from a long shift at the local grocery shop, slowly crouched down and called softly. ‘Hey mate… are you okay?’
The dog hesitated, then cautiously came trotting up and nuzzled his nose against her outstretched hand.
She checked the collar. The tag was almost unreadable, but she could make out part of a phone number and a name: ‘Murphy.’
Maya brought Murphy home, fed him, and posted a picture on the local Lost Girls Facebook group.
Two hours later, a message arrived on her phone.
‘This is our dog! He’s been missing for four days. We thought we’d never see him again.’
The next morning, the family – a couple with two young children – showed up at her door. As soon as Murphy saw them, he barked happily and rushed into the children’s arms. The reunion was filled with tears, tail wagging and gratitude.
‘We were visiting friends,’ the father explained. ‘Murphy slipped out of the yard during the fireworks. We’ve been looking everywhere for him ever since.’
The mother tried to present Maya with a $500 reward they posted online, but she refused.
‘I didn’t do it for the money,’ Maya said with a smile. ‘I just couldn’t leave it there.’
The family insisted, but Maya was adamant.
She waved goodbye, thinking that would be the end of it.
But three days later, there was a knock at her door. The same family was outside, followed by a white van with a red bow on the bonnet.
Confused, Maya stepped outside.
‘We found out you’ve been walking to work and saving for college,’ the mother said. ‘You gave us back something priceless. We wanted to make a reciprocal gesture.’
Inside the van was not a car, but something else: a brand-new bicycle with a carrying basket and a gift envelope with a $1,000 scholarship cheque from a local pet shop they had contacted, touched by her story.
‘You didn’t just find our dog,’ the father said. ‘You reminded us that real kindness still exists.’
Maya was at a loss for words. What started as a small act of compassion had turned into something much bigger.
She later wrote in her post:
‘I gave the dog back, not expecting anything good. But I guess that’s the point. You never know what impact an act of kindness can have – until it comes back to you.’
