Adopting a dog is a huge commitment, and for most people, it will involve browsing online, visiting local rescues and shelters, and falling in love with one of the animals there.
Some people, however, find themselves becoming dog parents through less conventional means, often entirely by chance. Take April Billak, who found a dog tied up in the backyard when she went to visit her new home and went on to give her a new life filled with the best dog treats and toys.
Billak found 10-year-old Molly tied up alone in the yard when she went to tour her new home – the previous owners left her behind when they moved. In the real estate purchase agreement, they said that they didn’t want to take their pets, including Molly and a cat, and said they’d leave them behind for the new homeowners “if desired”.
“During the house purchasing process, we were worried about what would happen with the dog,” she told People. “So we put it in the purchase agreement to make sure something worse didn’t happen to her.”
Billak knew she needed to keep the dog, and as soon as the offer was accepted she untied her and let her explore again. She said that she “wasn’t trying to hate on” the previous owners, because she wasn’t aware of their situation, but added: “I just wanted to make sure she was safe and going to be OK.”
She also urged people who might find themselves in a similar situation “to do whatever to help the dog,” and said she’d “love” for people to adopt rather than buy dogs more generally – take these dog adoption tips on board if you’d like to explore the idea.
When she first shared Molly’s story on TikTok, the video went viral and has since amassed over 33 million views and four million likes. “Bless you guys,” wrote one comment, while another said, “You have a wonderful heart!”
Since then, Molly and her feline sibling have been happily settling into life with their new family, and Billak has been keeping fans updated on TikTok at @mollysnewlife. In one video, she’s being taken off the leash for the first time, while in another, she’s being comforted while scared of the thunder outside.
Of course, Billak’s situation isn’t very common, but if you’re ever in a similar situation, here’s what to do if you find a lost dog. Meanwhile, here are eight things you need to know before getting a rescue dog
