I know my Monday Miracles usually feature a dog with a Facebook page, but I’ve decided to change things up because this is a story I am just in love with. When I learned about Daphne, I was enamored with her harrowing near-death epic, and just had to share it with you, especially since I know seniors have a soft spot in our heart.

Daphne’s story started as a hazy, golden suburban dream, where she cavorted in her own backyard with her partner, a male Dachshund like her. Everything seemed perfect and pristine. Until everything was no longer perfect. Until the day the baby came. At 10 years old — during what should have been her cozy golden years — Daphne found herself haplessly dumped alongside her mate at a high-kill shelter. She was separated from her mate and locked in a cage with an aggressive dog, who intimidated poor, confused Daphne.

She had five days to be adopted, and with her graying face, Daphne’s prospects did not look good. That’s when a rescue group heard of Daphne and her mate, and rushed in to pull them from the shelter. They were too late to save her mate, who was euthanized. Fortunately, they were able to get Daphne out.

The rescue group devoted themselves to finding Daphne a loving forever home. It’s not that Daphnie didn’t have fans — people loved her — but her trauma left her scarred with a fear and anxiety that was too much for most families to handle. Knowing they couldn’t give her what she deserved, they’d return her to the rescue.

Then Daphne came into the hands of a man named James, who took Daphne with him on all his long walks throughout San Francisco. The walks through the bustling city helped Daphne gain her confidence, and she soon charmed a couple living in the Mission District. They took her home, and instead of abandoning her at the first sign of Daphne’s anxiety, they hired a trainer specializing in cases like hers.

It took a while, but two years later, Daphne is still with that couple, braver, more trusting, and more confident than anyone ever thought possible. It’s amazing what a little love can do. In her new home, Daphne has earned the nicknames the Flying Nun (yes, after that show from the ’60s), Doodlebug, Snickerdoodle, and Lickerdoodle. Her favorite activities include burrowing under a warm blanket and — surprisingly — riding in a basket during Critical Mass.

And now Daphne’s human friends have taken on another “abandoned” dog. His name is Mr. Dog and he’s the star of a long-forgotten storybook called Mr. Dog’s Christmas at the Hollow Tree Inn, which will be published this fall. The book tells a different kind of holiday story. You can learn more about Mr. Dog and how his story fits into Daphne’s family’s holiday traditions at the Facebook page.

All photos courtesy of Daphne’s family, who are letting me use them with permission.

Check out more cuteness on Dogster:

• Monday Miracle: Bunny The Dog Defies Cuteness Conventions
• Cute Video Alert: A Dog and a Disabled Cat Are Great Play Pals
• Vid We Love: Charcoal the Lab Loves His Bucket More Than ANYTHING

About Liz Acosta: Dogster’s former Cuteness Correspondent, Liz still manages the site’s daily “Awws,” only now she also wrangles Dogster’s social media. That’s why she wants you to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and — her personal favorite — Instagram. See ya there!