‘Shut Down’ Shelter Dog Has Best Time With Kid Hours After Finding a Home

A nervous rescue dog’s transformation has melted the hearts of internet viewers, showcasing the power of fostering.

Chenille, a 1.5-year-old pooch, was timid and scared after being found as a stray on June 25, 2024, and taken to Lucas County Canine Care and Control in Toledo, Ohio. Her transformation began when foster mom LeeAnn Harden took her in.

The viral moment (@plannedpethoodtoledo) that captivated viewers occurred when Chenille played joyfully with Harden’s 2-year-old daughter, Lila, racking up more than 162,000 likes and over 1.1 million views on TikTok.

Chenille, believed to be a retriever or Carolina dog, struggled in the shelter.

“She was super shy and nervous there. Some dogs just do not do well in a shelter environment. She would just walk around tail tucked, ears back, and a bit hunched,” Harden, a stay-at-home mom and dog intake coordinator for Planned Pethood, Inc. shared. However, once in the care of her foster family, Chenille quickly warmed up.

Harden said: “Lila loves when the dogs chase her, and Chenille just picked up on it. She’s playful but gentle with Lila. Chenille is nervous in new situations and meeting new people, but she warms up quickly.”

In the video, Lila gleefully runs around while Chenille chases her and even jumps to join her on the couch.

“Chenille sat for over two months in a very overcrowded shelter. Today, she got her freedom, to a foster home! This is why foster homes matter,” Planned Pethood Inc (PPI) Toledo wrote as the caption.

Fostering made all the difference for Chenille. Harden said: “She was very shy the first hour or so, but quickly warmed up to us and our dogs, which is why fostering is so important, especially for dogs like Chenille. Within two hours of being at our house, I took that video. Now she is very comfortable with us. She loves to play with the dogs.”

The overcrowding issue at shelters like Lucas County Canine Care and Control has become a significant concern. As of late June 2024, the shelter has faced a growing shortage of space, leading to more dogs in need of temporary homes.

“Chenille was very nervous and shut down in a shelter,” PPI wrote as the text overlaying the video.

This problem highlights the importance of fostering programs, which help relieve the burden on shelters and give animals a chance to thrive outside the stressful shelter environment.

The benefits of fostering go beyond just freeing up space. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals says that fostering gives animals a more comfortable setting to heal and grow while also providing families with the joy of helping a pet in need. Foster care often makes animals more adoptable by teaching them socialization and offering a break from the overstimulation they experience in shelters.

Commenters were deeply moved by Chenille’s transformation. “She thinking, ‘wahoo! I got a kid!'” one viewer wrote, while another added: “‘I’m home and this is my person’ zoomies.”

One dog lover commented: “They need this video paired with her profile at the shelter omg [oh my god]. How mindful she is of where she’s jumping/running. Amazing potential family dog.”

Many commenters expressed empathy for shelter dogs like Chenille. Jenna Labbe wrote: “I can’t imagine the terror they must feel in those places. Not to mention the smells they can smell, the things they can sense, and the things they can hear.”

Another viewer captured the magic of Chenille’s new life, saying: “I feel like this is a joy core memory, like from the movie Inside Out. So precious.”

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.