Maiya was taken in by Jill Lenz for rescue, and this is their very happy tail! Maiya is making a very quick recovery and we must find a furever home for her soon. Read on for Jill's inspiring story about a dog with a remarkable story!

There is not a stray, abandoned or abused dog that crosses my path that my heart doesn’t ache for but there is always one for which a bond is formed because of its circumstance or condition.  Maiya is such a dog.

A friend and I went to Maricopa County Animal Care and Control on March 4th with the intent to video a different dog in need when I saw Maiya.  At that time, she had been on the euthanasia list for several days; it was only a matter of time until they put her down because of a medical condition.

This is what I saw when I was at county…

Although county kennels have both interior and exterior areas, this poor thing was stuck outside her kennel because the size of her tumor prevented her from accessing the indoor part of her kennel.

Without hesitation, I picked her up and immediately took her to University Animal Hospital in Tempe .  University has worked with me providing care and treatment for many “Maiyas” over the years.

The very next day, March 5th, University surgically removed the tumor, a procedure that took two hours.  The 7 pound tumor was biopsied and found to be non-malignant.

Because of a successful surgery, Maiya has made a full recovery.But her story doesn’t end here...

Suzanna, Carlos, and their son, Enzo, have taken Maiya, temporarily, in order to provide her a recovery environment with lots of shade trees and a beautiful grass back yard.

Enzo is 4 years old and although Maiya shows no aggression whatsoever, I would suggest she is best placed in a home with older children.

She gets along well with other dogs, too!

We believe Maiya to be a Shepherd mix and weighs approximately 52 lbs. She is spayed, micro-chipped, and is around six years old.

She has probably been left in a back yard for all her life and is apparent she has received little love or attention, as she craves and responds to love.

Maiya will make a wonderful companion in a home that has lots of love to offer and share. She walks well on a leash, enjoys walks and car rides and is particularly fond of sunning herself under the fruit trees or simply laying in the grassy backyard. She is completely house-broken and, so far, no one has heard her bark.

This little girl has an extremely mellow temperament and is very good natured – a true sweetheart.

Can you provide a loving home for Maiya? If this is something you can do, please contact Jill Lenz directly at jill (at) cdsframing.com or email us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it with "Maiya" in the subject line.