As an avid dog rescuer, Kelsey McDonough spends a lot of time visiting animal shelters throughout Los Angeles, California. Sometimes, the McDonough Rescue founder shows up with the intention of helping a specific shelter resident find a home. Other times, she volunteers her time to just sit with the caged pups and give them some much-needed attention.

“There are a lot of dogs who need help and honestly just need company,” McDonough told The Dodo in a recent video.

McDonough has met countless dogs during her time at the shelter, but she recently came across a pup unlike any other, one whose sad demeanor and audible whimpers left her stunned.

“[The] first time I saw her, she stopped me dead in my tracks,” McDonough said. “She was just so shut down and so sad. It completely broke my heart.”

McDonough couldn’t ignore the pup, named Sadie, as she cried in the corner of her kennel. The empathetic rescuer sat in front of the dog’s cage and showered her with love.

“She was the epitome of puppy-dog eyes,” McDonough said. “I spent hours with her, sitting outside her kennel, just trying to do anything I could to make her feel better.”

When McDonough returned to the shelter the next day, she walked straight to Sadie’s kennel. She sat with Sadie again until it was eventually time to leave and promised she’d be back the following day.

The next morning, McDonough returned to Sadie’s kennel, and the once shut-down dog greeted her friend with a wagging tail.

Sadly, McDonough’s daily visits were the only form of attention Sadie received from the outside world, without a single adoption application to her name.

That’s when McDonough decided to share her story online.

“That night, I decided to post a video on TikTok to help get her some exposure and just honestly ask for help to get her out of that shelter,” McDonough said. “Her miracle came through.”

Soon after sharing Sadie’s story online, McDonough received a message from a girl named Rilynn. Attached to the message was a picture of Rilynn and Sadie in the shelter’s parking lot, celebrating the pup’s adoption.

You can see that moment here:

McDonough couldn’t have been happier for Sadie. The sweet girl has since settled into her new home, soaking up all the love from her permanent family and enjoying her rambunctious play sessions with her new fur sibling.

Once a crying shelter pup, Sadie now wears a permanent smile on her face. And everyone in her community, including her new mom, are thrilled to see her so happy now.

“[I love] seeing her from when I first got her to now, flourishing into this chunky girl that she is now,” Rilynn told The Dodo.