Mollie Stewart with Braveheart. Photo: Daily Comet

A homeless woman who made the heart-wrenching decision to give up her dog got to keep him thanks to the generosity of strangers.

Mollie Stewart and her Akita, Braveheart, were facing living on the streets after Mollie was evicted from her apartment. Mollie is unemployed and down on her luck. A college graduate, she had been giving tours in New Orleans for over 10 years, prior to selling her business and moving to Massachusetts. Unfortunately the move was a financial disaster and she returned to New Orleans to start again.

But she lost her job after Hurricane Isaac and has found it difficult to find new work since. It was an unfamiliar situation for Mollie who has never gone more than three months without a job. She sold her car to cover expenses, but the bills continued to pile up and eventually she could not cover rent for her apartment.

"I had always wondered how people became homeless," Stewart told the Daily Comet. "But in three weeks, I was homeless."

Mollie also faced the cruel choice she might have to give up her best friend, her beloved Braveheart.

She spoke with Hope for Animals rescue group and came to the heartbreaking decision to send Braveheart to a rescue organization in Texas.

When Gisele Landry from Hope for Animals came to get Braveheart from Mollie she found Mollie in tears. Mollie asked Gisele if she could give her a little more time to figure things out. Gisele wanted to help and posted an appeal for Mollie and Braveheart on Facebook.

She said she was overwhelmed by the response. She received offers for gift cards and donations. "Everybody wanted to pitch in," she said.

Jeni Breaux of Thibodaux read about Mollie and offered her and Braveheart a trailer to live in until she can get back on her feet. "Women help women," Jeni said. "We should promote each other and help each other out. Everybody has been down on their luck before. Everybody has had an emotional, spiritual or financial setback in life."

Mollie continues to apply for work, but has been  overwhelmed by the help she is getting. "The kindness of strangers is so amazing," Mollie said. "I am so thankful for everything."

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• homeless
• New Orleans
• Louisiana
• Akita