NEED TO KNOW

• Maya the dog spent her summer living as a stray in a tree trunk in Chicago

• A staff member from One Tail at a Time spotted the pup and decided to help the homeless pet

• After gaining trust with the canine, the rescue worker was able to find Maya a home for the holidays

Maya is enjoying a winter of warm hugs and toasty paws, but it could’ve been different.

Earlier in 2025, the stray dog caught the attention of her neighbors on the south side of Chicago when she took up residence in the trunk of a tree standing in a disused lot. Maya was sitting in the hollowed-out trunk during the summer of 2025 when staff members from animal rescue One Tail at a Time drove by and noticed her.

Upon seeing the dog, Aly of One Tail at a Time made it her mission to rescue the pup and give the dog a loving home before Chicago’s brutal winter set in. The task was easier said than done, as Maya was sad and fearful, often fleeing when any human tried to get too close.

Instead of giving up, Aly slowly built trust with the dog by patiently providing the pooch with resources.

“Maya had been a stray for several months. She was taking shelter inside a tree trunk and was fending for herself. Thanks to Aly and other people in the neighborhood, Maya was fed and had drinking water throughout the summer,” Alli Rooney, One Tail at a Time’s marketing manager, tells PEOPLE.

For a while, Maya would stay inside her tree until someone approached her, at which point “she would retreat to nearby train tracks to take cover,” she adds. Eventually, Aly had a strong enough relationship with Maya that the dog didn’t immediately run from her.

To help the dog find a comfortable, caring home, Aly worked with Chicago Animal Care and Control to rescue Maya safely.

“We didn’t want Maya to be outside during Chicago’s brutally cold winter and wanted to make sure we could safely trap her before winter came,” Rooney says about the rescue.

After animal control recovered Maya, One Tail at a Time took over the dog’s care. Maya arrived at the rescue in October, “pretty unsure and scared about everything.”

“She was reserved and wanted to keep to herself the first few days, and then her personality started to blossom. Physically, she was in pretty good condition, especially for having been a stray for so long,” Rooney explains.

After settling into life off the streets, Maya found a home with Aly’s parents, who fell in love with the dog while their daughter built trust with the canine. The pair officially adopted the dog in November.

According to Rooney, Maya is thriving at her new home, where she enjoys comfortable beds, plenty of chew toys, and lots of playtime.

“She went from a dog that was so isolated and had so little human contact, to being the center of attention in her home. She has landed the jackpot, and we’re grateful that she was rescued. We wish the same for every stray dog,” she adds.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Animal lovers can help other homeless pets find their happy endings by supporting One Tail at a Time’s rescue work. Learn more at https://www.onetail.org/.

Read the original article on People