When sweet Minnow was a brought from South Korea to Northen Virginia by Humane Society International (HSI), she was the last dog out of her cage.

Abbie Hubbard was there when the timid pup cautiously walked out of her crate and looked into her eyes. Hubbard, the deputy director for the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria, felt an instant connection.

She quotes a poem to describe how strongly she knew it, "Your heart and my heart are very, very old friends."

"I can't explain it any other way - we were just meant to be together," Hubbard says. "I pulled her out and it was love at first sight."

It turns out that the connection wasn't exclusive to Abbie. Gentle Minnow has been a loving companion to many fosters that pass through Hubbard's home.

One very special foster has worked it's way into Minnow's entourage, much to her initial trepidation.

She was a little uncertain of the baby chick, since she had learned to have a 'healthy respect for birds and their beaks' from a pair of African grey parrots.

But the little chick (named Chickpea) persisted and now the two are adorable cuddle buddies.

Now, Hubbard and Minnow are paying forward the kindness of those who rescued the pup from a horrible fate at the dog meat factory.

"Minnow has so much love and a joy for life. I believe she was infused with the courage and compassion of her rescuers," she says. "She and those that saved her inspire me every day to try to help more animals. It's an incredible gift to be surrounded by so much kindness."

[h/t The Dodo]