Twyla's Friends - The Story of Maria

Canine Rescue and Adoptions - Kingwood, Texas

Home | Our Dogs | Times and Locations | Maps |

The Story of Maria

In November of 1999, I was asked by Sandy Rapoport, an animal lover who rescues and cares for cats and kittens, about trying to catch a very sick looking stray dog that she had been feeding for several months but unable to catch. Despite the food and loving conversations she had had with the dog it would not get close enough so she could put a leash around it. We decided it would take a capture cage and patience to catch her.

As luck and love would have it, Maria was captured on the second rainy day after we set-up the cage. That was on Nov. 22, 1999. The location was on Cable Street, in Conroe, TX. Since the dog was a female and it was close to Christmas, Sandy decided to name her Maria. She said that maybe naming her Maria would help her to survive.

Maria Soon After Being Rescued

She was in such bad shape we didn't know if she would live. We could not even tell her breed. She had no hair and her skin was fragile and tender to the touch. We still don't know how old she is as radiographs say one thing and teeth and other indicators say the opposite . We thought she was between 7 and 13 years old. She had parasites, mange - several varieties, but much to our surprise she was heartworm negative. We thought if she was suffering we were at least saving her from a slow demise.

We had forewarned a local veterinarian that we were going to try to capture a dog and asked if she would help. She said yes and on the evening she was captured she was taken to The Animal Hospital of Conroe. Dr. Patricia Faubion, D.V.M. tested and treated Maria for all of her aliments in the coming months.

Dr. Faubion and her staff were extremely patient in the slow process of bring a dog back from death's door. My appreciation and admiration for the work they do is right up there with Mother Theresa and her helpers. You see, Maria was not house trained and as she is not feeling well, she makes quite a mess in her run. They have dipped her repeatedly, treated her skin, spayed her and given her all shots, not to mention feeding and watering her daily since her capture. All the while doing this with kindness and concern. This was a real rescue job on their part. I never received or got a complaint or request to remove her from the hospital. For that, I am exceedingly grateful.

In April, Maria was pronounced well enough to move on with living, not just trying to survive. I asked Roni Edwards, a Twyla's Friends Canine Rescue volunteer to pass the word and pictures of Maria over the Internet and see if there was a kind hearted person who would have room for a survivor to live out her days with tender loving care.

Maria by May

Within a few days of posting the pictures and a brief story about Maria, on the Internet, we heard from a lady from New York state, Sandy Maefs. Roni and Sandy and myself communicated about Maria for about a week. Sandy talked to her family and sent pictures of her German Shepherds called Cowboy and Meg. We checked references and talked with her veterinarian and knew that Maria was one "lucky" dog.

The plans of how to get Maria to New York were spinning around in our heads. Sandy thought about driving down and picking her up but it would be at least 29 hours drive time one way. It was decided that Maria would just have to be flown to her new home. The airline tickets were purchased and the time for the reunion was set for Thursday, June 1st, 2000.

The reunion that took place on June 1st was not just between a dog and her new companion but also between two sisters that have never met before. Sandy, Maria's new adoptor , met her sister Debbie who lives in Houston. They located each other a few years ago when Sandy answered the phone and it was Debbie calling. Sandy was perplexed as to who and why Debbie was calling because she was never told she had a half sister. They have talked by phone but have never actually met face to face. The rest is history and I have talked to both of these ladies and am amazed at how generous and wonderful these wise, strong beautiful woman are. Both are in rescue, Sandy and her family are helping animals and Debbie and her family help the less fortunate. Debbie has an outreach ministry called "Joy in Jesus" which is affiliated with Urban Outreach and part of "Somebody Cares Houston".

You see the rescue of one very sick and homeless dog put into motion a whole chain of events. This sequence of events has "Meant to Be" written all over it.

We were all excited for June 1st to come and all the plans went very smoothly. Sandy arrived at the airport and Debbie and her husband were there to meet her. A very tearful reunion took place and the next morning all three were off to Conroe to pick up Maria. It was an honor to meet these two special ladies and unite them with Maria the one that unknowingly set this all in motion.

June 30, 2000 picture of Maria. She has come along way baby!

It is now July and Maria has settled in nicely with her new family in New York. Sandy's 13 year old boy said that if he could have picked any dog in the whole world it would be Maria. The feeling is mutual as Maria has gained 10+ pounds and has taken on puppy like features. She was house trained and has been playful and will go for walks as long as she does not loose sight of home. She looks regal when she rides in the car, looking out the window and sitting up straight. Maria has some problems like tumors, which are shrinking, a cracked spine and an old injury to a knee but all that is not slowing her down and she seems to improve daily .

As for her new family and the wonderful woman who stepped up to the plate and knocked one out of the park, my sincere admiration and joy for the second chance given to Maria for a happy life. She deserves it.

This article was written by a Twyla's Friends Canine Rescue volunteer. Since I have been associated with this wonderful organization I have, with the help of other committed volunteers and wonderful veterinarians, had the joy and blessing of rescuing, restoring and adopting out many dogs into wonderful loving homes here in the Greater Conroe/Montgomery area. I used to have a few good friends now I have hundreds of sincere, kind and caring friends. For this I am very grateful.

Won't you consider joining an organization for the protection of our animal friends. There is a great need. We need a variety of helpers and if you can find room in your house and in your heart to foster one of these furry orphans until they can be placed in their permanent homes, I promise you, it will be rewarding. The need is great.

Twyla's Friends began in Kingwood, TX. It was started by two women who saw a problem in the community ten years ago and did something about it. There was no shelter or place for animals in Kingwood that had been left behind by their owners or ran away or were lost.

If you can't volunteer and would like to make a tax deductible donation please make the check out to:

For more information call (832) 488-7937. Leave your name and phone number and a volunteer will return your local call.