Shelter Dog Too Scared To Leave Kennel—Volunteer's Patience Changes All
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
A Utah shelter volunteer has moved viewers on TikTok after helping a terrified 3-month-old puppy find the courage to leave her kennel for the first time.
The volunteer, Kayla Lyman (@rosieandtheshelterpups), took to the platform on July 22 with a clip of the young dog named Hibiscus frozen with fear. The video ended with a dramatic transformation, and viewers were shown Hibiscus, once too anxious to step out of her cage, snuggling close to Lyman, visibly more relaxed and confident. The clip has been viewed more than 9,000 times to date, resonating with viewers drawn to the dog's emotional turnaround.
The footage was filmed at West Valley City Animal Services in Utah, where Lyman volunteers. She told Newsweek that puppies like Hibiscus often arrive at the shelter undersocialized and nervous—conditions made worse by the risks young dogs face in such an environment.
"When puppies are that young, their immune systems are still developing, so it can actually be pretty risky for them to go outside," Lyman, 28, said. "They're especially vulnerable to illnesses like parvo, which is often deadly for puppies.
"That's also why shelters can be a dangerous environment for them as there are a lot of dogs coming and going, which increases the risk of exposure to all kinds of germs."
Kayla Lyman cuddles up to Hibiscus the rescue dog at a Utah shelter (L) and Hibiscus sitting on a chair.
Kayla Lyman cuddles up to Hibiscus the rescue dog at a Utah shelter (L) and Hibiscus sitting on a chair.
@rosieandtheshelterpups
As a result, she explained, the shelter generally keeps puppies under six months old inside, limiting their exposure but also confining them mostly to their kennels or meet-and-greet rooms. That lack of socialization can leave even the most affectionate dogs hesitant to explore the world beyond their cages.
"That's how Hibiscus was," Lyman said. "She was so sweet and cuddly, but she was scared to leave her kennel and super unsure of the outside world.
"She'd crawl low to the ground like she was trying to stay safe, often going in circles or trying to go back into her kennel."
The TikTok post's overlaid text described the puppy's shift as she "went from scared to leave her shelter kennel to...confident and cuddly," and added: "She just wanted to feel loved and safe."
Lyman captioned the clip: "She's only 3 months old. I can't wait for life to get so good for our Hibiscus girl."
Lyman said she spent time with Hibiscus in a quieter space, away from the noise and stress of the kennel area.
"Once we got out of the loud kennel room and I took her to a meet-and-greet room, she slowly started to come out of her shell," she said. "By the end, she was way more confident, and it was honestly so sweet to watch.
"Just like people, dogs react to the environment they're in and once Hibiscus felt safe, I saw a completely different dog from the scared girl she was in her kennel."
A passionate advocate for shelter pets, Lyman uses her platform to counter negative stereotypes about dogs in rescue facilities.
"There is often a stigma around shelter dogs as being 'bad' or 'damaged,'" she said. "I'm a firm believer that a dog's behavior is a direct reflection of what a human has taught or allowed them to act.
"Ending up in the shelter is never the dog's 'fault.' It's human action or inaction that puts them there."
A rescue dog owner herself, Lyman urged prospective pet owners to consider adoption too.
"There are so many dogs in the shelter that are incredibly sweet, well-mannered and trained," Lyman said. "I would encourage anyone who is looking to get a dog, to shop shelters and rescues.
"I promise every single breed, age, and characteristic you could ever want lands in a shelter."
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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