Footage of a man conversing with his foster dog about the pup not going back to the shelter has melted hearts online.
The clip, shared to TikTok by Janell Laggenbauer (@fostermommy.xo) on October 20, featured the moment her husband sat down and spoke gently to 4-year-old pit bull, Niño, who was abandoned twice before finding his way to the Laggenbauer home.
In the video, the husband reassures Niño about an upcoming visit to the shelter he came from.
"We are going to the adoption agency, OK? We have to bring you with us so you guys can do a meet and greet. OK?" he said. "We are not taking you there to bring you back. We're taking you there to meet a friend and then we're taking you back home. OK?"
His soft tone and earnest repetition seem to comfort Niño, who looked like he was taking in every bit of the chat.
Niño is the couple's first foster dog and has been with them for just four weeks. "I had a pull that I needed to start fostering dogs, and I truly believe it's my calling," Laggenbauer told Newsweek. The couple is currently renovating part of their home to create a sanctuary for dogs in need. However, they felt compelled to foster Niño and have since taken in a second dog named Omelet.
Laggenbauer noted that the visit to the shelter triggered some anxiety for Niño, who showed signs of nervousness as they passed other barking dogs.
"Dogs who have been in the shelter deal with PTSD from it," she said. Thankfully, after meeting Omelet, Niño calmed down and was overjoyed to return home. The conversation with her husband, Laggenbauer believes, helped ease Niño's fears too.
With Laggenbauer's video receiving over 320,000 views on TikTok, users were delighted by the man's gentle manner with Niño.
One TikTok user wrote in the comments section: "Can we talk about the amazing GREEN FLAG man you have??? Love this so much! Dog people are the best people!"
While another added: "They definitely understand. I have taken in a 3-year-old old dobie who was being neglected. He understands 100 percent."
The family plans to officially adopt Niño in the coming week—a decision they have yet to announce on their TikTok account—where plenty of viewers have been asking about what will happen to him next.
"He has meshed perfectly with our family and is in love with our 8-month-old puppy. He's also a protector, which is what I've been wanting. He is way too perfect to give up." Laggenbauer said.
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