Jalen & Maia Blessing

LOVE, TIME AND A TROLLEY TURNED JALEN INTO THE PERFECT COMPANION

Seven years ago, Olga spotted a photo of Maia on Mercylight’s website and felt an instant connection. “There was a click in my head,” she said. Maia was initially shortlisted by another family, but they ended up adopting a different pup from the litter — and that twist of fate brought Maia home to Olga and Mike instead.

Fast forward four years: now parents to Maia and Valarie, Olga and Mike were considering fostering again, this time with a heart for helping a senior dog. They opened their home with no expectations — and ended up finding family once more.

“We were thinking of fostering a senior dog, like Noble or Shepherd, since senior dogs are often overlooked by adopters and may be more in need of care”, Olga shared. “Kelly then told us about Jalen. When we did the first weekend staycation with him, though he was skittish, we could see that he was a very capable dog - even without his prosthetic leg, he was able to hop up onto the sofa!”

Mike laughed, remembering those early days. “He didn’t do much - I think he was mostly observing us. We even thought he was mute—he didn’t bark at all until about a month in, when we turned on the TV to a particular programme with a male voice, and he surprised us all by howling!”

Fostering Jalen - Foodie, Bush Explorer, Thunder Hater, Dog with Three Legs

Jalen was first rescued by Mercylight in October 2021, found with a missing paw, tick fever, dry eyes, and several other health issues. Fostering a three legged dog was not easy at first, but with Jalen’s courageous resilience and Mike and Olga’s unconditional care and love, things progressed quickly for the family.

“He would take a longer time on walks and mark anywhere that had the smell of other dogs,” Olga said. “Now we use a trolley to bring him downstairs, and then start the walk from there, which helped a great deal. We sometimes also walk Maia separately, so that she can get longer walks.”

Despite mobility issues, Jalen enjoys beach outings and swims at Sentosa. “We bring him to swim for his rehabilitation and exercise but he really loves just lying on the sand,” Mike added. “At home, we have carpets everywhere so he doesn’t slip. Our condo grounds also have nice gardens and outdoor areas for him to explore. He also has gained a bit of fame in the estate, with him being very friendly to kids and neighbours.”

Though he might only have three legs, things change whenever there’s food around. “He can jump on his hind legs when he sees his dinner!” Olga laughed.

Building a Bond: Maia, Jalen & Valerie

Maia and Jalen didn’t immediately become playful companions - their relationship is tender in other ways. “They lick each other’s faces after walks,” Olga smiled. “Though they don’t play with each other a lot, they’re still close and provide each other company.” “They look out for each other,” Mike added. “If one disappears from view, the other will start searching.”

In a funny twist, Maia has picked up Jalen’s habits over time. “Jalen has this peculiar habit of walking into bushes in slow motion to let the branches scratch his body. A few months later, we noticed that Maia started doing the same thing!” Olga said.

At home, Jalen has blossomed. He’s cuddly, relaxed with human contact, and enjoys lounging on the sofa—though he draws the line at loud sounds. “He’s scared of thunder and not fond of loud music,” Olga said. “But he’s incredibly affectionate—he’ll fall into a deep sleep with his head planted on Mike’s leg all night.” At this point, the couple is seriously considering upgrading to a king-sized bed.

When Fostering Turns Forever

Over two years, there were a few adoption attempts for Jalen— but nothing stuck. “Two families came by to visit him, but the adoption didn’t go through,” Olga said. “It was a bittersweet feeling. On one hand, we wanted him to be adopted by a good family… but on the other, we also didn’t want to let him go.”

Mike added, “We have been trying to apply for Permanent Residence (PR) in Singapore, but back then we weren’t sure if we could stay. It made things complicated. But with the strong bond we had built, we came to the conclusion that he was already part of our family, and saying goodbye would be challenging.”

He also shared a deeply personal moment: “What haunted me the most was the fear that Jalen might feel abandoned if we let him go to someone else. That thought alone brought me to tears, and it was difficult for me to come to terms with it.” Eventually, the decision was clear: Jalen was home.

Why Fostering Matters

When asked if they would recommend fostering, both answered with a resounding “yes.”

“Fostering is like an extended home trial—it’s a great way to get to know a dog,” Olga said. “It’s hard to give them up to potential adopters after you form a bond, but it gives the dogs, especially the senior ones, a peaceful place to rest, even if it’s only temporary.”

She also encourages others to ease into it. “Start with staycations,” she suggested. “If you have the space and capacity to do so, why not!” “Fostering enriches the dog’s life,” Mike added. “They learn how to live in a home environment, which can make the eventual adoption process easier. It’s also a good way to test how your current pet handles a companion. Honestly, managing two dogs isn’t that much harder than one.”

Maia, who used to struggle with separation anxiety, now finds comfort in Jalen’s company when the couple goes out.

Q2 2025

[UPDATE: It is with a heavy heart that Jalen crossed the rainbow bridge in March 2026. We are thankful that Jalen found a family to call his own, and deeply grateful to Olga and Mikhail for giving him a loving home.]