Ruta Petraitis swore she was done having dogs after her beloved Shih Tzu, Phoebe, passed away. But life has a funny way of changing plans, especially when a little Maltese entered the picture quite unexpectedly.

It all started at a friend’s birthday party. The hostess had recently bought a home that came with a surprising leftover resident: a small dog whose former owners couldn’t keep her. With a busy household and young children, the friend knew she couldn’t take on another pet, but she hoped to find Coco the perfect new home.

Enter Ruta. Ruta and her husband arrived at the party and immediately noticed the Maltese pup. In fact, Ruta spent much of her time holding the dog while mingling with guests, as they bonded so easily. After hearing her friend’s story, it seemed like fate. “We just clicked right away,” Ruta says with a smile. “She was meant to be ours.”

At the time, Coco was about five years old, shy, and frightened of everything. She hid under beds at first and seemed unsure of her place in the world around her. But patience and love worked wonders. Today, Coco is the princess of the Petraitis household, complete with five beds scattered around the home so she can nap wherever she pleases.

She adores car rides, trips to the groomer, and, of course, treats—so many treats. “She knows exactly where they are,” Ruta laughs. “After every walk, she heads straight for her reward.”

Coco may have had a rough start, but she’s living her happily-ever-after now, proof that sometimes, the best gifts in life come when you least expect them.