7 days ago
Rescue Dog Returned, Becomes Terminally Ill — Foster Carer Knows What To Do
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
A rescue dog was left facing the bleakest of futures after being returned to the shelter and subsequently diagnosed with terminal cancer. Then something truly remarkable happened.
When Macchiato the 75-pound pit bull terrier mix first came to Best Friends Animal Society in New York City in November 2024, she was in bad shape, emaciated and beaten up, roaming the streets as a stray.
It was clear to everyone at Best Friends that Macchiato would benefit from a foster stay, and they knew exactly who to ask. Mo Hussain is a seasoned volunteer and foster with the national animal welfare organization. He also has a track record for helping pit-bull terriers find loving homes.
"I've been told by Leah Cohn, foster manager at Best Friends in Soho, that she sees certain dogs and thinks to herself, 'That's a Mo dog,'" Hussain told Newsweek.
"I suspect that I have become a reliable foster for larger dogs, perhaps breeds that have misconceptions like Staffordshire and pit-bull terriers. Macchiato was probably my fourth foster that year. They have all found homes, and it's such a great feeling."
A foster carer can make a huge difference to a shelter dog. A 2018 study published in the journal Applied Animal Behavior Science found just 15 minutes of one-on-one petting was enough to boost the well-being of a shelter dog.
A foster stay serves as an extension of that idea, giving shelter dogs a chance to decompress, grow used to a domestic setting, and, in time, let their true personality emerge.
Hussain saw that personality emerge early on with Macchiato. "I was completely impressed with how mild-mannered, elegant and ladylike she was," he said. "Macchiato had an unofficial nickname after a few days in my house. I started calling her Lady. She was emaciated and a bit battered, but carried herself with an Audrey Hepburn-like grace."
Mo Hussain and Macchiato stop for a photo while out walking together in the streets.
Mo Hussain and Macchiato stop for a photo while out walking together in the streets.
Mo Hussain/Best Friends Animal Society
Hussain got the sense Macchiato was "appreciative" of being in a home. "She would willingly go in her crate without being asked to and sit with her legs crossed," he said. "Her eyes are also very soft, and clearly she has a warm soul."
Macchiato's size and breed sometimes made Hussain feel "self-conscious" when out and about in New York. However, he instead found himself being stopped by people taken by her eyes and how she seemed "so demure and clearly a gentle, loving creature."
Hussain can still recall the conflicting emotions he had when he informed Macchiato had been adopted. "I was overcome with a bittersweet sadness that she was adopted so quickly and my time with her was brief. But I was obviously happy that such a sweet dog would have her permanent home," he said.
Macchiato spent six months with her new family, but sadly it did not last. She was returned, with her adopters citing a busy work schedule as the chief reason for her return.
There would be more heartbreaking news to come. Soon after her return, Best Friends staff noticed a mass on Macchiato's neck. A biopsy revealed devastating news: Macchiato had aggressive, inoperable cancer that had already spread to multiple lymph nodes.
Despite the diagnosis, everyone at Best Friends felt Macchiato still had more life to live—and they were determined to make every day as special for her as she was to them.
That was when Hussain stepped back in. "When I learned that she was back at Best Friends and in need of help, I was doubly sad for her. How could such a sweet dog be 'returned?'" he said.
"Then, in the next breath, I heard that she was terminally ill and that the team would hate to have her spend any more time in the shelter than absolutely necessary, so I didn't hesitate to jump into service," he said.
Hussain agreed to provide "fospice" care for Macchiato. "Part of me was just happy to have an opportunity to see her again," he said. "Another part of me was happy to help her have more comfort and dignity in her life, even if only briefly."
It has been five weeks since Hussain agreed to take Macchiato home and she is living her best-possible life. She still enjoys daily walks in the park, playtime with her canine friends, and countless cozy moments with her foster dad. Together, they are making memories to last a lifetime.
"She has higher energy days and lower energy days. It's always nice to see a gleam in her eye and a tail emphatically and excessively wagging. Some days, she lays around a bit more," Hussain said.
"However, when we get her into off-leash hours at Fort Greene Park in the mornings, she comes to life, chasing a ball and running around with other dogs. But it takes a bit out of her, and she needs to rest up."
From left: Macchiato plays with Mo Hussain; and relaxes in a park.
From left: Macchiato plays with Mo Hussain; and relaxes in a park.
Mo Hussain/Best Friends Animal Society
Hussain said he hopes Macchiato's story encourages others to foster and also provide care to those dogs entering the final stages of their lives.
"Sharing some time and space with a dog and providing palliative care can be deeply rewarding," he said. "I'd like to think that my dog, who went to doggy heaven 15 years ago, is looking down on me with approving eyes and is proud of what I am doing.
"I hope people take away that fostering is a great way to help shelter pets and I hope that, by them reading this, I can inspire more people to foster."
