Hi everyone, it’s Catherine. I want to share a very special story about Maika and why she’s a big part of our logo. Maika is like a sister to me and truly our miracle dog.

Two winters ago, my parents and I spent two months traveling through Mexico. During our journey, we spent two weeks in a small fishing village called Xcalak. My dad, an avid fisherman, wanted time to do what he loves most, and my mom and I were along for the adventure. With only about 400 residents, this little paradise felt like a world of its own. The lush vegetation, untouched surroundings, and wonderful people drew us in from the moment we arrived. But that wasn’t all we fell in love with.

That’s where Maika comes in—or "Africa" and "America," as locals called her. This brave three-legged girl greeted us on our first night and never left our side. She spent her days by our side at the beach, came into our villa for treats and affection, and slept outside our door every night. Right away, we knew we couldn’t leave her behind. She chose us, and we felt responsible for giving her the best possible life.

We arranged her papers and brought Maika back to Canada, where she quickly adapted to the cold and even enjoys the snow. Since coming home, she has been the light of our lives, bringing happiness to everyone she meets. Maika has embraced every friend—human or dog—that comes through our door, and now we can’t imagine life without her.

Maika inspired this project. Dogs like her deserve loving homes and a beautiful life, just as they bring so much joy to ours. We want to provide top-notch care and services for dogs who already have loving homes, with the dream of one day creating a rescue in Xcalak and other areas in need, in Maika’s name. Our goal is to help more dogs like her find caring homes and the right people to love them.

We’re doing this for every stray dog that deserves a second chance like Maika. In the end, we didn’t just save her; she saved us. Our beautiful, resilient tripawd is perfect just as she is.

- Maika & Catherine