4 days ago
Puppy Dumped Outside Woman's Home, Hearts Break as She's 'Literally Smiling'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
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An 8-week-old brown puppy dumped outside a home has captured the hearts of thousands online—especially after she was spotted smiling through her ordeal.
Brooke Harris, 28, who lives in Dallas, Texas, shared the story on TikTok (@13rookeharris), where the video quickly gained traction, reaching over 203,000 views and thousands of likes.
"We were so upset that someone could do this to an innocent baby, but we were so relieved she happened to be placed in front of our homes," Harris told Newsweek.
Harris said that she and her neighbors first discovered the puppy after one of them noticed an unfamiliar truck parked outside and asked about it in their neighborhood WhatsApp group.
When the truck's owner—a neighbor's boyfriend—was identified, another neighbor responded by posting a photo of the puppy curled up in the bed of the truck.
Harris said the puppy had clearly been dumped, as there was no way she could have climbed in herself. A bowl of water had been left with her.
A split image of the dumped dog in the truck; and in the yard.
A split image of the dumped dog in the truck; and in the yard.
@13rookeharris/@13rookeharris
"She's literally smiling," Harris wrote as the text overlaying the video of the image of the pup looking like she was grinning.
Fortunately, the woman whose boyfriend owned the truck took the puppy into her home. Her boyfriend, who is a veterinarian, checked the pup over. She was covered in fleas and ticks, but he had the appropriate medication and bath products to treat her.
Harris and the other neighbors, all dog lovers, quickly came together to support the puppy. "Me and neighbor 1 have dogs, so we brought over a bed, food, bones, and toys to keep her happy until we figure out what to do with her," she said. "She is the sweetest little pup ever, so innocent and so happy to be around people. We really wanted to make the best decision on her rehoming."
After sharing the photo of the puppy in the truck bed on her Instagram story, a friend suggested Harris post it to TikTok to reach a wider audience. The response was overwhelming.
"The TikTok unexpectedly blew up, and I had about 10 to 15 people asking to adopt her," Harris said.
After considering several offers, Harris and her neighbors agreed to place the puppy with a woman who already had a female dog and a large backyard. She frequently takes her dog hiking and on trips, and the group felt confident she would give the puppy the loving home she deserved.
"Her new owner has been updating us with pictures, and she's settling in so great already and gets along with her new sister perfectly," Harris added.
Reflecting on the whirlwind of emotions the experience brought, Harris said: "How we felt about the whole situation was a mixture of mad, sad, and happy. We were so upset that someone could do this to an innocent baby, but we were so relieved she happened to be placed in front of our homes.
"The three of us are big animal lovers, and it just worked out perfectly. Now this pup gets a second shot at life. It was a very rewarding experience to be able to do something good for the world," Harris added.
TikTok users flooded the comments with gratitude and heartbreak. "Thank you for helping this sweet baby!" one user wrote.
"I hope she went to a good home," said another.
"How could they hurt this baby angel please lord God help this baby angel," commented one viewer.
"She smiled at you, why didn't you just say 'stay' you even took the picture," another user posted.
"Some Humans are not humane. Thank you for helping," added Moe.
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