After losing their beloved dog while on vacation, Alanna and Keith weren’t sure if they could open their hearts again. Their 9-year-old St. Bernard had passed unexpectedly, leaving behind a quiet house and two broken hearts.
But then came Mulligan.
While scrolling through adoptable pets in Canada, the couple spotted a 10-year-old golden retriever listed by the Edmonton Humane Society. His eyes grabbed them instantly. They considered it overnight—but by morning, Mulligan’s listing was gone.
As it turned out, someone had already adopted him. But days later, the post reappeared. His adoption had fallen through.
“We thought, maybe it’s a sign,” Alanna said. “We knew he was old, but that didn’t matter. He deserved a loving home.”
They didn’t wait again. Determined not to miss their chance, the couple showed up at the shelter 30 minutes before opening. Staff told them that Mulligan’s original owners, an elderly couple, had to surrender him due to health issues. His short-lived adoption afterward failed because the new owner thought he was “too stinky.”
Mulligan had spent three stressful weeks in the shelter. The anxiety of it all had him on medication. He was 30 pounds overweight, limping, and clearly in need of TLC.
None of it mattered.
“From the moment we saw him in person, we knew we had to take him home,” Alanna said.
WATCH THE VIDEO BELOW:
The couple shared their story on their Instagram page, @thegoldensaint, and thousands fell in love. Mulligan, tail wagging and smiling, looked like he knew he was finally safe.
For his first few days at home, Mulligan barely left the living room rug. But by day three, his spark returned. He started exploring the house, watching birds through the window, and finding joy in the little things again.
Alanna and Keith have a vet visit lined up to help him safely lose weight. They’re already switching him to healthier food, and hydrotherapy is on the table to ease his aching joints.
“He’s brought light back into our home and healing to our hearts,” Alanna said. “No matter how long he has left, we’re going to make every moment count.”
Since sharing Mulligan’s story on July 12, the video has racked up over 322,000 views and 30,000 likes on Instagram.
“Thank you so much for giving this sweet boy a second chance at a wonderful life,” one person commented.
“What a precious boy. So glad he found his forever home with you!” added another.
And one more chimed in with what everyone was thinking: “You can definitely tell he’s a good boy. So happy he found you.”