A dog who sat with his owner during the last moments of his life had been rescued. While getting picked up, he presented some behavioral challenges, but a California rescue took a chance on him.
Mell Garcia and her nonprofit rescue organization, Mell's Mutts, learned about Canelo through an email from Fresno, California's animal control. Each week, animal control sends emails about dogs in need, seeking help from the local rescue community, Garcia told Newsweek. The emails include a kennel card and a tiny picture of the dog. That's when Canelo's photo caught her eye.
His card said he was found on October 23 in a car with his owner, who was deceased. The only other mention was the word "scary," which she believes alluded to his behavior of biting or snapping. That didn't sway her. She immediately sent an email saying her rescue would take him in.
They wanted to confirm she would take him, saying he was not a happy dog, growling, snapping and trying to bite everyone, but she knew he needed a chance. After all, he had just spent the last few days "protecting his owner" all alone.
"A dog like that wouldn't have made it out," Garcia said, thinking they would've euthanized him after his impound time expired.
She immediately took him to the vet, where the November 3 TikTok video was filmed, to be checked. In the clip, Canelo sat on the ground, frozen with emotions as he processed what had happened. His fur was matted and he hadn't been groomed, which Garcia believes was part of the reason why Canelo was so angry.
"I'm not going to lie, he was spooky looking," she said. "He looked very scared and angry."
Following the vet visit, in which a microchip revealed he had been with his owner since at least 2019, Canelo went back to Garcia's home, where he could decompress from the trauma he endured.
She spoke with the police department to learn what had happened. Canelo was living with his owner out of a van. The van was parked outside of an O'Reilly Auto Parts shop for a few days before the store called to do a welfare check. Police discovered the owner, 70, died from a heart attack and Canelo was inside.
Canelo immediately started barking and tried snapping at the officers. He hid under the van, making it harder for them to capture him. It took them four hours, she said. He showed resistance—biting, snapping and barking—every step of the way, until he finally could unwind at Garcia's home.
Garcia said he hasn't tried biting her since he decompressed and adjusted to her home. She discovered he loves other dogs and playing.
He is scheduled to be neutered next week and from there she will start sifting through adoption applications. There are plenty of interested families already after his video amassed more than 718,100 views on TikTok, but she said it is a lengthy process
"When we first intake the dog, I bring them to my home so they can decompress and so we can learn more about their personality before going to a foster," she said.
Viewers flooded the video's comment section with interested adopters and others sharing their hopes for his brighter days ahead.
"I just want to hold him and keep in safe right next to me. Sending you lots of love little buddy!!!" one user said.
Another added: "Oh sweetest baby. I hope he finds his forever-loving home when he's ready."
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