Woman Brings Her Ailing Dog to Spain to Live Out Her Final Days. Then She Unexpectedly Falls in Love (Exclusive)

Jennifer Lee wanted to bring her beloved dog comfort in her final days. Little did she know her choice would lead to a whole new adventure that's gone viral on TikTok.

Lee, originally from Seattle and recently living in Amsterdam, decided to travel to Spain, after receiving devastating news about her beloved dog Maggie. “Maggie was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy, and they told me she had three to six months to live,” Lee exclusively tells PEOPLE. “I thought, well, I want her to be out in nature experiencing life.”

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Seeking a peaceful retreat for Maggie's final months, Lee rented a remote casita near Chulilla, Spain, in November 2024. The decision surprisingly led to an extraordinary friendship between the two and and another dog named Piggy.

Piggy, who is considered an “outside dog” — a pup that has a home but spends their time outdoors — began visiting Lee and Maggie shortly after their arrival. “He kind of came wandering up to her on one of the first days,” Lee recalls. Despite initial concerns about Maggie’s reactive nature, the two dogs quickly formed a tight bond.

Their daily routine soon included Piggy’s regular visits. “Every day after that first meeting, he comes over first thing in the morning to greet Maggie,” Lee says.

He even joined them on their mountain walks, which later led to him seeking evening cuddles. "At night, he'll scratch at my door and come inside," Lee adds, noting Piggy's growing desire for indoor companionship.

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When Lee first observed Piggy, she noticed he may be in need of a veterinary visit. Lee reached out to the dog's family, however, they were at first skeptical about her concerns. Eventually, they took the dog to the vet.

As Lee and Maggie built a special bond with Piggy, she recently offered to adopt him, even proposing a substantial sum of $50,000 to his current owners. “I thought, maybe this is a good opportunity to ask them if I can adopt him,” she says. The amount was based on a conversation with Piggy's owners about their business needs.

Piggy's original family declined, expressing their desire to both keep the canine and also keep him outdoors. This only increased Lee's desire to take Piggy under her roof sooner.

Lee’s efforts to adopt Piggy have garnered significant attention online, leading to the creation of a GoFundMe campaign to help. At press time, it sits at more than $18,000.

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Reflecting on the growing efforts surrounding Lee’s potential ownership to Piggy, the Seattle native says, “This shows the power of collective action.” Lee emphasizes that she plans to donate the funds to three selected charities if the adoption doesn’t materialize.

While the future of Piggy’s ownership remains uncertain, many TikTok users are hoping Lee gets to take him home. “Please keep him,” writes one user. “That baby needs you.” “Please adopt him. You can see how much he loves you,” another says.

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