SOLON SPRINGS, Wis. - During this Thanksgiving week, people have asked themselves, "What are we thankful for?" 

Two Northland families have a heartwarming answer after being adopted, so to speak, by two creatures that emerged from the woods in terrible shape.

It's a special "Animal Tale" born out of what appeared to be abandonment, and is now a blessing for two new family members who are finally home.

The tale starts in the woods near Burma Road in Solon Springs on Nov. 4. Two hunters heading home came across a young black Labrador retriever. Terri Luebbe's husband was driving.

"Went a little further down the road and she kept following," Luebbe said of the stray dog.  "He stopped and she jumped right in the vehicle and came home.  She was extremely thin and she was loaded with wood ticks." 

Falling in love with her personality, the Luebbes decided to keep her and named her Maverick. 

"We've named her. She has become a part of the family," said Luebbe.

At the same time, a similar situation was developing at a home on the other side of the woods, where Lilah and Chester, two Newfoundlands, lived.

Their owner, Trish Berger, took photos of a young black Labrador retriever that started hanging around her home.

"He was so malnourished that his hair was actually falling out," said Berger. "You could see his ribs and he was so hungry." 

Ironically, her 9-year–old son Camden, who was in charge of feeding Lilah and Chester, had just shared a wish with his mother.

"I just said I wish God would just give me a dog," recalled Camden Berger.  "And he just appeared out of nowhere." 

Covered with wood ticks and extremely thin, the dog was just what Camden was looking for, so the Bergers kept him. Camden named him Adrian and began teaching him tricks, as Adrian did some teaching of his own.

"Adrian is so loving and kind and giving," said Trish Berger.  "He's just so gracious for everything that we've given him and we're very thankful.  He chose us as his family."

But there's more to the story.  The Bergers are good friends with the Luebbes, and couldn't help but notice the striking similarity in their newfound pets - so they brought them together to meet.

"We kinda thought they would be siblings," said Trish Berger.

Camden Berger agreed: "They have the same curve on the tail," he said.

FOX 21 asked Terri Luebbe, "Did they know each other before?"  "Yes," said Luebbe.  "How they knew each other, we don't know."

Only a DNA test could confirm if the two Labs are related, but the Luebbes and Bergers are satisfied knowing that after up to eight months fending for themselves in the woods, the two are finally home.

The Bergers say there was a third black lab, about the same age, picked up in the same area.  It was taken to a shelter, where it was named Emmitt and adopted out.