Maddie Ziegler showed up for her Dodo Dream Date carrying a bouquet of soft, dog-safe roses for a rescue dog named Toby, never expecting he would win her over so quickly.
Toby, who had only recently been rescued from the streets of Los Angeles, seemed a little timid at first. Even so, Maddie was charmed right away and could not help telling him how sweet he was.
To start their date, the two played a game called Shoot and Score. Maddie tossed a small beach ball toward pink metal buckets, each one filled with either treats, toys, or fun questions designed to help them bond.
Her first successful shot earned Toby a toy along with some snacks.
On the next turn, Maddie got a question asking what talent people might be surprised she does not have. Although she is known for performing onstage and on camera, she admitted that singing is definitely not one of her strong points.
Toby, of course, did not seem bothered in the least.
Later, Maddie shared the story of her own dog, Boots. She explained that she originally took him in as a foster, but from the moment they met, she felt he belonged with her. She even got a tattoo to honor him.
Toby ended up getting his own little tribute too. To remember their special day, Maddie placed a temporary tattoo of Toby on her hand and said it was the cutest thing ever.
As she cuddled him, Maddie also talked about her recent movie, Pretty Lethal, which is streaming on Prime Video. In the film, she plays a ballerina and performs many of her own stunts. She said her dance background gave her a strong advantage when preparing for the physically demanding role.
Toby had a trick of his own to show off as well, impressing Maddie by spinning on command.
Eventually, their Dream Date had to come to an end. Before saying goodbye, Maddie gave Toby a basket packed with toys and treats to thank him for their time together.
Since then, Toby’s happy ending has continued. He has now been adopted into a loving home through Wallis Annenberg PetSpace in Los Angeles.
For Maddie, the date was unforgettable. She said her favorite part was simply getting to shower Toby with affection, and joked that while the temporary tattoo on her hand may have seemed a little extra, it probably helped bring them even closer.