Yvonne and Kevin Murry were proud San Antonio pet parents, especially fond of rescue dogs. “After sharing our lives with many dogs over the years, rescue animals became a huge part of who we are, especially after adopting our sweet Zoey from a local humane society,” says Yvonne, speaking for the whole family. When Zoey passed away after living a healthy and happy life with the Murrys, the family began searching for their next family member to fill their hearts and their home once again.
One fateful day, while scrolling through Facebook, a photo of a senior dog named Janis appeared in Yvonne’s feed. “At the time, we weren’t familiar with SNIPSA, but Janis immediately captured our hearts. . . . Even though her muzzle was mostly gray and she was already 10 years old, you could tell she still had so much love left to give.” The family followed the post to Janis’ page on the SNIPSA website, and seeing her video solidified their plans to schedule a meet-and-greet. “What we didn’t know,” Yvonne reminisced, “was that a sweet, spunky little dog named Marmalade was about to completely change our plans.”
Both of these sweet pups had a rough start. Janis was rescued at ten years old from the euthanasia list at a local shelter. SNIPSA’s adoption coordinator couldn’t believe it when she saw her on a desperate callout for a rescue partner to take her in. She stepped in just in time to organize a pick-up, and soon enough, Janis was in the care of a kind SNIPSA foster. Marmalade, still a puppy, on the other hand, spent her first five months without a home before coming into SNIPSA’s care.
Soon after their discovery of Janis, the Murry family made plans to volunteer at PawChanga, a Fiesta adoption event by San Antonio Animal Care Services. As they were walking dogs, Yvonne recalls, one cheery pup from another organization stood out to them.
After their shift was over, the Murrys noticed the SNIPSA tent. They hadn’t known SNIPSA would be at the event, but they figured it was the perfect chance to stop by and ask about Janis. For the second surprise of the day, they saw the same puppy again from that morning. It turned out to be a 5-month-old retriever named Marmalade. “Her excitement was contagious, and her eagerness to love and be loved was impossible to ignore. Before we knew it, we were looking at each other and filling out adoption paperwork for Marmalade…. we weren’t leaving without her.”
Just a week after Marmalade––now known as Stella––went to her new home with the Murrys, the family met with Janis and her foster family in person. “As much as we loved Janis in pictures, we loved her even more in real life,” says Yvonne. And with that, there was not one, but two new tails wagging around the Murry house.
How is the home life now? We’ll leave it to the Murrys for that part: “Marmalade, now Stella, is a ball of energy, a continuous ray of sunshine and a love bug! She makes us laugh every day,” says Yvonne. “Her silly antics and facial expressions are good medicine! She gives the most dramatic side-eye you’ve ever seen.”
And the second pup? “Janis, now Maggie, is doing great! She is such a love! She walked right into our house like she’s always been with us,” says Yvonne. Since her adoption, it seems Maggie couldn’t be living a better life. She has been soaking up spa days at the mobile grooming truck, and her vet reports have been coming back better than ever. But of course, the best part of her new life is her new family: “We don’t remember what it was like before her. She has brought so much love into our home.”
This double adoption story means that Stella and Maggie were not only getting a new home, but they were also getting each other as sisters––and according to the Murrys, the duo is getting along without a hitch: “Stella has a lot more energy, but Maggie still loves playing with her and chasing the ball. She often beats Stella to the ball, but Stella has quicker reflexes. Maggie, on the other hand, is a prim and proper elderly lady. She loves lounging on the porch, often with her paws delicately crossed. She adores her little sister but has absolutely no problem reminding Stella who’s in charge when necessary.”
It seems like the Murrys, and their two new additions to the family, couldn’t be happier. “Stella and Maggie have given us far more than we could ever repay. They brought joy, laughter, life, and love back into our home. They have helped fill spaces that felt empty and continue to heal pieces of our hearts in ways only the unconditional love of a rescue dog can.”
They also shared some very kind words that warmed our hearts—because it meant SNIPSA was fulfilling its mission! “SNIPSA doesn’t just help animals find homes; they help families find the missing piece they didn’t even know they were looking for…. Stella and Maggie remind us every day that age, appearance, or past circumstances don’t define a dog’s ability to love…. If you’re considering adoption, keep an open heart. The dog you think you’re rescuing may end up rescuing you right back. And if you’re lucky, you’ll discover what we’ve learned: some of the very best things in life arrive on four paws!”
We’re so glad that Stella and Maggie both found the Murry family, where they are so clearly loved and cherished. There’s nothing more we could want for our rescues and the families that so graciously support SNIPSA!
