Acouple have recalled how a fateful encounter with a stray puppy on their second date was the first step towards them becoming husband and wife.

Research has previously highlighted the unique way companion animals are able to bring people together. In 2015, a study published in the journal PLoS One saw over 700 adults from four different cities surveyed on how well they knew the people in their local neighborhood.

Respondents who had pets were then asked a series of follow-up questions. Researchers concluded that our four-legged friends play an important role in fostering human-to-human friendships and other social support, all of which was beneficial to long-term health.

Sometimes a pet can foster more than just friendship though. When Keb Rogers and Kiana Richards met up to go hiking at Buford Dam Park in Gwinnett County, Georgia, back in July 2022, it was only their second date.

They had matched on Hinge and, after an enjoyable lunch date together, had decided to follow it up with a walk taking in some of the local scenery together. They ended up taking in something altogether unexpected that night though: a stray puppy by the name of Fiona.

“We went and walked the trail there and were heading back to our cars,” Kiana told Newsweek. “We stopped to talk before saying goodbye and noticed a puppy hanging out on a nearby sidewalk.”

They initially assumed the dog was with a group of people nearby, but when they left, Fiona was still there. “She ran over to us and immediately went into a submissive crouch,” Kiana said. “We were trying to figure out what to do with her.”

Of all the people Fiona could have approached that day, Keb and Kiana were just about the most perfect to have chosen. “When I first saw her there I remember commenting that she was a pit mix, which is my favorite type of dog. Keb and I had pit mixes at home already,” Kiana said.

That night changed everything, for all three of them. “I volunteer at the local shelter so I offered to call them to pick her up. But Keb always wanted a dog of his own so he said he would take her to get scanned for a microchip. If she didn’t have one he planned to keep her if an owner didn’t come forward,” Kiana said.

Over the next few weeks, Kiana and Keb continued to care for Fiona and, in the process, grew closer. Kiana admits that before that fateful night they “didn’t know each other that well” despite enjoying the dates they had been on.

Fiona changed that. “Finding her really brought out our true character,” Kiana said. “Keb took Fiona home that night and she started vomiting and having diarrhea just about every hour. He was texting me through the night while staying up with her in the living room to make sure she was ok.”