Woman brings home a foster dog who's never lived indoors — and she tears up at the first thing he does
After seeing the puppy shiver on the ride home, the woman expected all sorts of reactions except the one the foster actually gave.
Taking up the option of fostering a pet is not just a noble thing to do; it’s also a magical way of changing a life. A woman named Laurel (@mythologicaldogs) understands the joys of fostering and has a few dogs whose lives she’s saved. Along with her partner, Rob, she recently got a new foster pup named Charlie. Sharing his firsts has been beyond a delight to the pet parent. But what struck her more than anything else was the very first thing the little guy did as soon as he entered their home. Having never been in a house before, the canine clearly revealed to the duo what a life-changing impact they’ve had on him.
Laurel has been documenting Charlie’s journey on her Instagram. In a previous video, she captured a shaking, confused 6-month-old Charlie, seated in the backseat, unsure of what’s to come. She mentioned that the puppy, having never been inside a home, had missed out on a lot. He’d never woken up to be cuddled, never had his own bowl of food. “He's never known life without flea bites,” Laurel remarked. The canine has had to learn quite a bit, including how to trust, how to listen, how to feel safe, and so on. At the same time, he has also been giving his pet parents immense joy through the littlest signs and gestures.
According to Info Center, data from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals noted that around 6.3 million companion animals enter U.S. animal shelters every year. They each have a profound life that deserves a family that truly 'sees' them. Dr. Emily Weiss from the ASPCA noted, “Fostering gives pets a second chance at life, and it allows families to experience the joy of caring for an animal without a long-term commitment." There were several ways Charlie could have reacted after being welcomed into the duo’s home. However, his simple act left the woman in tears. The canine ran straight into his cozy and warm cage and fell asleep.
“As soon as we got home, he went to sleep, like, his body crashed. He was exhausted,” Laurel noted. She added that the canine had been passed out for a couple of hours before he woke up. Without knowing it, Charlie instantly gave the woman confirmation and assurance that he fit right into their homes and hearts. He displayed the most bittersweet reality that he’d been longing for this kind of safety and security and had finally found it in Laurel’s home. When she approached the dog to greet him, he excitedly obliged but was bent on staying right in his cage. With the warm blanket and toy, he was staying put and not leaving.
Despite Laurel asking if he wanted to take a walk outside or even step out for a bit, the sweet foster made it very clear that he found his perfect spot. “Screaming, crying, throwing up… he’s so precious,” she wrote in her caption. Many people clearly noticed his comfort and relief of finally being in a safe place. @meggieeg2 said, “He’s never known this level of comfort. He’s like, Ma’am, I am NOT getting out of this bed!” @oaklandanne added, “Aw, all the appeasement signals (lip licking, yawning, rolling to side). Sweet baby.” @thatgirlkated remarked, “Oh my heart! Little does he know how beautiful his world is about to become.”
In a series of follow-up videos, Laurel revealed that Charlie still has to learn to completely trust his new pet parents and that they were actively training him for it. In one of the videos, on day 2 of being in his new home, Charlie finally got up and out of his cage on his own, without needing to be carried. He walked up to Rob, ready to soak in all the love. His healing one day at a time is just what the essence of humanity looks like.
You can follow Laurel and Rob (@mythologicaldogs) on Instagram for more content on pet parents and fostering animals.
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