Over the next few days, we visited her often and listened to stories about her life, her late husband, and the apple tree she had planted in the backyard decades earlier. Shortly after, we received a call that Margaret had passed away peacefully. A letter she left behind directed us to a trunk in our attic and a hidden box beneath a loose floorboard. Inside, we found saved funds her husband had set aside as a gift for whoever lovingly cared for their home.

We used part of it to establish the Max & Margaret Fund to support senior rescue dogs. The rest went toward restoring the home she had cherished. Now, when Buddy naps beneath the blooming apple tree, it feels like he’s listening to something only he can hear. In the end, it wasn’t just about finding someone in need—it was about a dog finding his first home again, just in time to say goodbye.