Internet users have been left in tears by a rescue dog who was so dejected that even when he found his loving forever home, he was too afraid to go inside.
The emotive video was shared by TikTok user @mochaandbubbers on October 16. The footage shows Bubbers, the rescue pit bull mix, looking so nervous in his new home, and afraid to even step through the doorway.
Written alongside the video, the caption explained that he was "so shut down and didn't want to step inside" due to fear. Eventually, after an hour of trying to encourage the nervous dog, he managed to go inside and has never looked back since.
Footage at the end of the video shows what a remarkable transformation Bubbers has had, as he can be seen running around happily with his canine sister, Mocha.
Since it was shared online, the video has gone viral with more than 305,300 views and over 39,900 likes at the time of writing.
Newsweek has contacted @mochaandbubbers via TikTok for comment.
Unfortunately, stories like this are all too familiar, as the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals estimates that approximately 6.3 million companion animals wind up in shelters across the country every year. Among them, that includes 3.1 million dogs and 3.2 million cats.
While it's a happy ending for around 4.1 million animals who find their forever homes, the same can't be said for all of them. It's thought that 920,000 animals have to be euthanized every year to make space in the already overcrowded shelters.
Rescue animals will take as long as they need to settle into their new home, and it could happen quite rapidly, or they might need a bit longer to adjust.
There's no way of knowing exactly how long it could take, but New Hope Animal Rescue in Austin, Texas, says that owners should remember the 3-3-3 rule. This guideline suggests that the first three days should be used for adjusting, the next three weeks for training and bonding, and the first three months for socialization and training.
The idea of this rule is to help owners set realistic expectations and to give their new rescue pup all the support they need during such a momentous time.
How Did TikTok React?
Social media users were truly heartbroken and devastated by the footage of Bubbers looking so terrified when he was rescued on October 7, despite finding a loving forever home.
Thankfully, his owners have continued to share more clips of the dog looking happier and healthier now that he's accustomed to his home. What a difference a bit of love and care can make.
With over 970 comments on the viral post already, many TikTok users praised Bubbers' owners for granting him the patience and care he clearly needed.
One comment reads: "You can tell he has trusted humans in the past and been let down."
Another TikToker wrote: "Thank you for being patient and going at his pace!"
"I tried to prepare myself to not cry watching this...it didn't work," said one commenter.
While another person added: "OMG look how happy he is running and smiling."
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
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