Macchiato doesn’t have much time left, so she is filling it with love.

In November 2024, the 75-pound pit bull-terrier mix appeared to have found her forever home. Best Friends Animal Society helped rescue the dog, discovered on the streets of New York City, where she was living as an abused and emaciated “stray.” Macchiato decompressed in a foster home following her rescue, and soon the 9-year-old canine was adopted, according to the non-profit organization.

Unfortunately, Macchiato’s new home didn’t last. After six months with the dog, Macchiato’s adopters made the difficult choice to return her to Best Friends care, as their changing and demanding work schedules prevented them from being responsible pet owners.

Upon her return to the N.Y.C. shelter, staff at Best Friends quickly noticed that the pit bull-terrier mix had a “mass on her neck,” per the nonprofit.

Shortly after, a biopsy of the mass “revealed devastating news,” per Best Friends: “Macchiato had aggressive, inoperable cancer,” and it had “already spread to multiple lymph nodes.”

There is “no cure,” according to the nonprofit, but “it was clear to Best Friends staff that Macchiato still had more life to live.” The pup just needed a new place to spend the remainder of her time — and thankfully, she didn’t have to go far.

A familiar face stepped up: Mo Hussain, who is not only a longtime volunteer with the organization, but the very volunteer who fostered Macchiato after she was rescued.

When asked if he would consider taking on a “fospice” case — fostering a terminally ill pet — Mo said yes to re-opening his heart and home to Macchiato, according to Best Friends.

“My bond with Macchiato is like no other. From the moment I took her in, I could tell this girl was special, so demure, I actually nicknamed her Lady. Now that she’s back with me and sick, I treasure each moment and want both her and I to enjoy each moment because this dog truly deserves it,” Hussain shared with PEOPLE.

He hopes that Hussain’s act of devotion inspires other animal lovers to foster.

“Fostering is one of the most important ways community members can help out their local shelters and rescue groups. By fostering, you are clearing space for other pets to be taken in and providing these dogs and cats with a safe place to decompress. At a time when shelters across N.Y.C. and the country are at or over capacity, fostering is a critical step in taking the country no-kill and stopping the unnecessary killing of dogs and cats due to lack of space,” he explained.

Hussain is championing others to take up fostering as well, so they can experience the emotional reward that comes with stepping up for a pet in their moment of need.

“Being a foster is one of the most rewarding things you can do – and you play an important part in pet lifesaving. I wouldn’t trade a day with Macchiato and hope we share many more days that will ultimately live with me forever,” he said.