On a bitter January night in Houston last year, temperatures plunged unusually low — and as Andrea Soliz glanced out from her workplace’s warehouse, something caught her eye.
There, huddled in the shadows, was a dog. But as Andrea looked closer, she realized it wasn’t just one dog — it was a mother and her tiny puppy, trembling in the freezing air.
“I saw them shivering,” Soliz told The Dodo. “They were very scared.”
The mama dog was painfully thin, clearly sacrificing her own well-being to keep her puppy fed and safe. Despite their fear, the mother stayed close to her baby, shielding her as best she could from the bitter cold.
Soliz and her coworkers tried to coax them in, but the frightened dogs kept their distance. Knowing they wouldn’t survive the night without shelter, Soliz laid out blankets inside the warehouse, hoping they’d find their way to warmth and safety.
The next morning, she rushed back.
To her relief, both mother and pup had survived — and this time, something was different. The mama dog seemed to understand they meant no harm.
“I just gave her a hug, and she let me,” Soliz said. “She let me pet her baby, play with her baby — it was amazing.”
Soliz brought them home that day. She named the mother Nixi, and gave her a warm place to heal. In time, Nixi’s puppy was adopted into a loving home, but Nixi’s journey was just beginning.
After so much time on the streets, Nixi needed medical care — and time to recover emotionally. As Soliz helped her heal, she couldn’t deny the growing bond between them.
“At home, she put her little paw on my hand,” Soliz recalled. “And I was like, ‘I’m done. She’s mine.’”
Since then, Nixi has blossomed into a completely different dog. No longer scared or withdrawn, she’s playful, affectionate — and happiest when she’s at the beach or curled up close for a cuddle.
“It’s so exciting to watch her personality bloom,” Soliz said. “She’s a completely different dog now.”
Once a shivering shadow in the cold, Nixi is now cherished, safe, and home — right where she belongs.
