Dog Abandoned Near North Carolina Highway with 'Free Dog, Free Kennel' Sign Rescued by Foster

Madison Nygard, a volunteer foster with Pawfect Match Rescue, helped save Nova the dog after learning about her situation online

Nova is shining after a rough start.

In early December, the black and white dog was abandoned in a kennel next to a busy North Carolina highway with a sign that simply read "Free dog, Free Kennel."

While it is unclear how long Nova was left sitting in the cold, one person who came across her posted on Facebook looking for a rescuer for the pup. Ten minutes after the post went up, it was brought to the attention of Madison Nygard, a volunteer foster with Pawfect Match Rescue.

Nygard, who has four dogs of her own, saw the post and immediately mobilized.

"I was on my way. I had seen it a couple of minutes after it had posted it. I got to Nova before the post hit the hour mark," Nygard tells PEOPLE.

When she arrived, Nygard found the dog still in her kennel with the sign attached.

"What happened for them to decide to, 'Let me just put this dog in a crate with no tray underneath on the concrete in 40-degree weather in the middle of the day, in front of a food truck on a major highway?'" Nygard asks of how the little canine ended up in this situation.

Nygard had no answers about how Nova ended up abandoned like this, but she knew she wouldn't let the pet's story end here. After speaking with animal control officers, who were on site when Nygard arrived, Nygard got the all-clear to take Nova and foster her through Pawfect Match Rescue.

"I knew that at least if I brought her into the house, she would have food in her belly, and I could physically monitor," Nygard says.

So Nygard helped the Nova get medical attention and brought her back home.

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"I got her in the house, and she came over, licked my kids, went over to my husband, and was loving on him," says Nygard.

Nova also had an instant affinity for cuddling up on the couch, which makes the foster believe the dog was likely living in a home before she was abandoned.

"All of the 11 other dogs we brought into this house, we had to teach them how to jump up on the couch. They didn't just go for it themselves," she says.

Since moving in, Nova has quickly won over Nygard and her family members.

"My son was very sad when I brought her home because he was like, 'Oh no, she lost her family. What are we going to do, Mommy?' I was like, 'She's going to be fine. We're going to take care of her. We're going to love on her.' Now, every time he sees Nova, he's like, 'Nova Girl, come here. You're my best friend,'" Nygard shares.

Moments like these are gratifying for Nygard, who started fostering pets to help shelter animals and teach her children the importance of being kind to all creatures.

"I wanted to help out and also teach my kids boundaries with animals and teach them a little about why I'm so attached to dogs and cats and why I always want to do things for animals. It's been fun. My kids love it. They think it's a little present that comes home all the time," Nygard says, adding, "It's also great knowing that you've helped pets get where they need to be to find a forever home."

Related: Dog Left Chained Outside for 4 Years Spends His First Holiday Season in a Loving Home

Nova will soon be on her way to a forever home, according to Monica Horvath, the adult dog coordinator and backup operations manager at Pawfect Match Rescue.

"She does have a very interested, wonderful potential adopter, a former judge in the area," she says, adding that the adoption will likely be processed once Nova's hold period with the rescue is complete.

Unfortunately, there will likely be more cases like Nova's in the future, says Horvath.

"We see this every day. If it's not a dog in a cage, it's puppies in a bucket while it's raining, and you're just hoping they don't drown. It's dogs thrown in boxes. All of us rescue workers are conditioned, if we see a bag, a box, or a container on the side of the road, to pull over to see if there's a dog in there. People are leaving dogs in dog parks. They're tying them to trees in wealthy neighborhoods," she says.

Horvath adds that this rise in animal abandonments appears to be tied to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Since the pandemic, I think nationwide, it has been a huge problem where people adopted when they were at home a lot more often. And then they realize when they return to work that it's not as easy to manage the dogs," she says. "So we're seeing an incredible uptick in owner surrenders. Also, because people weren't going out during the pandemic, spaying and neutering fell off dramatically. So then dogs had babies that normally wouldn't have, contributing to the overpopulation crisis."

To solve this problem, Horvath says there needs to be stronger "spay-neuter rules" in North Carolina and more access to low-cost spay-neuter clinics nationwide.

"Nova is a great example of an awful case. I want people to know this isn't a one-off but an everyday thing. If that upsets you, there are ways where you can help us across North Carolina," the rescue coordinator says.

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To help Pawfect Match Rescue with its work in the fight against pet homelessness and overpopulation, Horvath suggests donating to the rescue.

"We also have wishlists on Amazon and Chewy for supply donations. Not everybody wants to give money, I understand, and the supplies keep us going," she says.

"And then, of course, sharing adoptable pets on social media helps — for any rescues, not just ours," Horvath adds.

To learn more about Pawfect Match Rescue and support its lifesaving work, visit the rescue's website.

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