Shelter Dog, 4, Gets in a Car—Not Knowing She's Going to First Ever Home
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
A dog named Maggie who had never experienced a home in her four years of life is finally receiving a break from shelter life thanks to first-time foster parents stepping in.
Mel, who is known on TikTok as @meltoddpt, reached out to Dogs 4 Rescue in Manchester, United Kingdom, with hopes of fostering a dog. This would be her first time, but she's no stranger to the companionship canines bring.
"I have had dogs for 25 years until I lost my last dog in February 2024," she told Newsweek via TikTok. "It's taken a long time to feel I'm ready, as it broke my heart losing her."
Dogs 4 Rescue connected Mel and her family to Maggie, a 4-year-old dog rescued from the streets of Cyprus and brought to the U.K. They welcomed her home on Sunday, and Mel said she's already fallen head over heels for Maggie.
She shared in a July 15 video on her TikTok account, Maggie's ride from the animal shelter to her first-ever home. Nervous, Maggie sat with her head down. But as soon as she got a head scratch, she lifted her head and looked longingly at Mel. She knew she had been saved.
"She is the most beautiful, gentle, kind soul," she said. "All she wants to do is sleep on the sofa and have her belly rubbed."
Despite never living in a house, Mel said Maggie has been "good as gold." However, she is timid. She's scared of everything outside—the noises and movement.
Maggie found her safe spot to be the sofa, which she rarely moves from. But she's becoming braver as the days continue. They're working on building her confidence, both inside and outside.
"She really is beginning to trust me, though, and she comes to me for comfort and knows I'm safe to follow," Mel said. "We just need to build that up to walks now, but I think she will always be timid."
Screenshots from a July 15 TikTok video of a woman fostering a 4-year-old dog who never lived in a home.
Screenshots from a July 15 TikTok video of a woman fostering a 4-year-old dog who never lived in a home.
@meltoddpt/TikTok
TikTok Users React
Like Mel, TikTok users fell in love with Maggie. The video has amassed over 105,400 views and 7,163 likes at the time of writing.
"Those gorgeous eyes. She has a lot of love to give," wrote one user.
Another added: "Aww Maggie, you are so very sweet. Wishing you a lovely life now filled with care, love and cuddles. Thank you for rescuing her."
A third pointed out: "Her eyes break my heart. She is lucky you found her, give her love."
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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