An elderly dog with epilepsy and a mild heart murmur played matchmaker for his owner, Adri Pendleton, when she needed to find a way to bring the dog, Nelly, back to the US from Amsterdam after her relationship with her Dutch partner ended. Pendleton started a GoFundMe and reached out to her dog Loki’s followers for help as Nelly was too big to travel in the cabin on an international flight. German pilot Niklas Stoeterau saw Pendleton’s emotional plea and offered to help bring Nelly back to the US at a discounted price. Pendleton was initially apprehensive but after exchanging texts with Stoeterau for almost two months, they finally met in Milan to make the trip.
During the 15-hour journey from Milan to New Jersey, Pendleton and Stoeterau got to know each other better and formed a connection. Nelly, the dog, also seemed to like the pilot despite being wary of strangers. After parting ways in New Jersey, Pendleton and Stoeterau couldn’t stop thinking about each other. A few days after the flight, Stoeterau invited Pendleton to California for a date, expressing his interest in her. Pendleton and Stoeterau have been together since March and have maintained a long-distance relationship between California and Germany.
Unfortunately, Nelly passed away just over a month after being in California with Pendleton, unable to see the love that had blossomed between Pendleton and Stoeterau. Pendleton fondly called Nelly her “ultimate wingman” for facilitating the connection between her and Stoeterau. Despite the loss of Nelly, Pendleton and Stoeterau’s relationship continued to grow, with Stoeterau meeting Pendleton’s family in March and the couple staying committed to each other despite the distance between them. Their journey began with a dog’s final act of kindness and blossomed into a heartwarming love story.
The connection between Pendleton and Stoeterau grew even stronger after Nelly’s passing, as they navigated the grief together and found solace in each other’s company. Nelly’s presence remained a significant part of their story, with Pendleton remembering the dog as the matchmaker that brought her and Stoeterau together. The loss of Nelly further strengthened the bond between Pendleton and Stoeterau, as they supported each other through the difficult time and continued to build their relationship despite the challenges they faced.
Pendleton and Stoeterau’s love story serves as a reminder of the unexpected ways in which love can enter our lives, often through the most unlikely circumstances. Nelly’s role as a matchmaker highlights the special bond between humans and animals, as well as the impact they can have on our lives in ways we might not expect. Pendleton and Stoeterau’s relationship is a testament to the power of love and connection, as they found each other through a series of events that began with a dog’s final act of kindness. Their story exemplifies the resilience of the human spirit and the ability to find love and companionship even in the midst of loss and change.
