A rescue dog in Quebec is defying the odds and celebrating a major milestone, five years in remission after once being given just months to live.
For Vaudreuil-Dorion resident Lina Maiorano, the journey with her dogs has been life-changing.
“It changed my life,” she explained. “It was all about them and not about me. So it was all about giving and not taking.”
Maiorano is the proud dog mom of Dixie Angel and Maya Ange, two rescue dogs she considers family.
“I never had human children,” she said. “For me, they’re my children.”
Dixie Angel’s story is particularly remarkable. The mixed shepherd was rescued by Maiorano and later faced a life-threatening cancer diagnosis. Through multiple veterinarian visits, surgery, and chemotherapy, Dixie Angel has now reached five years in remission.
“I was just adding one year. She made it to one year. She made it to two years. And then I said, if I make it to five, I’m going public with her story. And here I am today. I’m forever grateful that they’re here with me,” Maiorano said.
The story began after Maiorano lost her first dog, Lupo, who had been with her for 11 years. While grieving, she continued to take walks alone until one unexpected encounter changed everything.
During one walk, she turned onto a road she had never taken before and was approached by a woman from a rescue centre who asked if she could return the next day to help care for dogs that had been abused and neglected.
“So I took them for a one-hour walk. And when I returned to the rescue center, they didn’t want to go back in. They looked at me like, please take us. So I took them,” she recalled.
From that moment, Maiorano made a promise to give them a better life.
That promise was put to the test when Dixie Angel fell seriously ill and was given just three months to live. Maiorano chose to pursue every possible option to save her.
“They did give me a call when she was on the operating table. And they said, it’s risky. We’re doing our best. And I said, listen, when my dog went into the operation, I looked in her eyes and I said, you’re coming home,” she said.
“Most dogs with this diagnosis usually pass away within one year of diagnosis so Dixie Angle is very lucky to have Linda looking out for her and taking such good care of her,” said Dr. Julie Lecavalier, specialist in small animal internal medicine, Groupe DMV.
Today, Maiorano continues to dedicate herself fully to her dogs, cooking for them three times a day, taking them on long walks, and even teaching them how to swim.
Though she set out to rescue them, she says the impact goes both ways.
“I’m so happy,” she said. “It’s just a wonderful feeling.”
