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Terrified, emaciated dog comes to life as volunteer sits with him for human connection

He tries making himself so small in the kennel until he realizes he's safe.

Rocky Kanaka|YouTube

Terrified dog transforms after human sits with him.

There's something about dogs that makes people just want to cuddle them. They have some of the sweetest faces with big curious eyes that make them almost look cartoonish at times. But not all dogs get humans that want to snuggle up with them on cold nights; some dogs are neglected or abandoned. That's where animal shelters come in, and they work diligently to take care of any medical needs and find these animals loving homes.

Volunteers are essential to animal shelters running effectively to fill in the gaps employees may not have time for. Rocky Kanaka has been volunteering to sit with dogs to provide comfort. Recently he uploaded a video of an extremely emaciated Vizsla mix that was doing his best to make himself as small as possible in the corner of the kennel.

Kanaka immediately wanted to help him adjust so he would feel comfortable enough to eat and eventually get adopted. The dog appeared scared of his new location and had actually rubbed his nose raw from anxiety, but everything changed when Kanaka came along.

The volunteer slowly entered the kennel with the terrified dog, crouching on his knees for an easy escape if needed. But the dog attempted to essentially become invisible by avoiding eye contact and staying curled in a tiny ball. It seemed like it was going to take a long time for this nervous pup to warm up.

Before long, he's offered a treat. Success! The brown dog takes the treat, and as minutes pass you can see his body slowly relax, eventually coming to sit directly next to Kanaka for pets. In the few minutes of the video, you see such an amazing transformation that proves this little guy just needed some love.

"It was so cute when he started wagging his tail. You could tell his whole demeanor just changed, and he was happy. Just a few kind words and a little attention. That’s all animals need. Well, besides food. Lol," one commenter says.

"That moment when he starts to realize he's actually safe. That gradual tail wag, and the ears perking, the eyes lighting up. You don't have to be an expert to show an animal love and respect," another writes.

"After that first treat his entire demeanor changed. He went from not trusting you to thinking you may be kind and he could feel less stressed. That was really amazing to see," someone gushes.

This sweet scared dog just needed human connection by someone taking the time to sit with him to know he was safe. Once he was sure the shelter was a safe place, the dog even welcomed those who came to visit him after seeing the video.

"I went to the shelter today to visit 'Bear'! Everyone would be thrilled to hear that he seems very happy and energetic! He has a little red squeaky bone toy that he loves. He licked my hand immediately and rubbed his head on my legs and arms, eager for affection. What a sweetheart," a commenter writes.

Thanks to Kanaka's sweet gesture, the dog, now named Shadow Moon, was adopted and is now living his best life with his new human dad and husky brother. You can follow Shadow Moon's journey on his Instagram page.


This article originally appeared two years ago.

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Dramatic video shows a dog coming out of nowhere to rescue a puppy from drowning

A real-life Lassie!

via Pixabay

A good boy going for a swim.

A dramatic video from Lopburi, Thailand shows a dog running to the rescue of a puppy having trouble keeping its head above water in a fish pond. NowThis posted a surveillance camera video to their Instagram that captured a white dog named Soh being rescued by a larger dog named Hand.

Soh definitely appears to be struggling and calling out when, out of nowhere, Hand rushes to the rescue and pulls the dog out of the fish pond. Hand clearly could hear that Soh was in danger because it ran to its aid with purpose.

We often say we “don’t deserve dogs,” and after watching this video it’s pretty clear that sometimes, dogs may feel the same way. The video shows that dogs can have an innate empathy for one another. Hand could have dismissed Soh’s cries and thought, “More food for me,” but instead, the larger dog stepped up and saved the pup.

It's unclear if all the footage was shot by a security camera because there are two different angles. Recently, there's been a trend in staged "drowning" videos where people pretend to be in danger to show off their dog's rescue instincts. This doesn't appear to be one of those videos, but there's no doubt it shows off Hand's innate altruism.

A study from Messerli Research Institute at the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna found that dogs can behave altruistically toward one another by sharing food, but are more likely to do so if they are familiar with them.

“Dogs truly behave prosocially toward other dogs,” the study, published in Science Daily, said. “That had never been experimentally demonstrated before. What we also found was that the degree of familiarity among the dogs further influenced this behavior. Prosocial behavior was exhibited less frequently toward unfamiliar dogs than toward familiar ones.”

However, a recent study found that dogs show very little altruism toward humans in regard to food-sharing, whether they know them or not. So, if you’re waiting for your dog to give you a treat, don’t hold your breath.

Don't worry, though. Your dog still loves you, and they seem to love each other if Hand and Soh have anything to say about it.

This article originally appeared three years ago.

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Pop Culture

'SNL' did a fake dog school commercial and it went hilariously off the rails

Six dogs were part of the skit. Zero did what they were supposed to do. It was 100% fun to watch.

"Saturday Night Live"/Youtube

Romeo did NOT want to reenact "Lady and the Tramp"

As the old show business adage goes, “Never work with children or animals.” Neither really care about sticking to the script and that unpredictability can’t help but steal the scene.

But, hey, sometimes it makes for a hilarious skit.

Saturday Night Live's April 14, 2023 episode introduced us to "Enter Stage Woof, Dog Acting School,” where zany dog trainers Yolanda Batista (played by Ana de Armas) and Donna Colonoscopini (played by Chloe Finemen) advertise a “semi-accredited” acting school for pups who “know they’re hot” and are ready to take on Hollywood.

While de Armas and Fineman worked well together, their six canine co-stars went completely off the rails.

From Henry, the deadpan golden retriever who simply refused to show his face, to Romeo, to the collie who left poor Fineman onstage with a mouth full of cold spaghetti after a Lady and The Tramp bit gone wrong, these doggos and their complete lack of cooperation kept the actresses on their toes.

Watch:

Absolute chaos right? But pure comedy gold.

Folks in the YouTube comments sections seemed to think so:

“Not a single dog did what it was supposed to do, 10/10.”

“When SNL brings actual dogs onto a skit you immediately know it’s gonna be hilarious.”

“When you got a 100% success rate at getting a dog to do the opposite of what you want it to, you know that is some top notch training!”

Dogs might not always be the best actors, but they are natural entertainers.


This article originally appeared two years ago.

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Joy

'I'm not abusing my dog.' Husky owners make light of having to field concerns every winter.

Well-intentioned neighbors may not realize some dogs are built different—literally.

Photo credit: Canva

Huskies and other arctic dog breeds love chilling in the snow.

If you see a dog being left out in the cold and snow all day and all night, it might naturally raise some red flags and make you wonder if the owner is being neglectful. Making sure pets are safe in cold winter weather is a concern for animal lovers everywhere, but in some cases, misplaced concerns can cause headaches for perfectly responsible pet owners. Case in point: Huskies.

Husky owners are sharing stories of having the police called on them or being accused of abuse and neglect because their dogs prefer to hang outdoors during harsh winter weather rather than going inside to "stay warm." In fact, the colder it gets, the happier their Huskies are to lounge around outside, which leads to some comical images of dogs bathing in snow and uninformed good samaritans trying to "save" them from the elements.

"The cops and animal control both showed up at my house last night because someone reported an anonymous claim that we had left our dog outside in the cold weather," says a pet owner in a viral video showing his Husky dog, Nuko, contentedly lying in a yard full of snow. "It's pretty cold here in Maryland. And when the cops showed up, they said, 'Oh we're sorry. If we would have had known that we wouldn't have shown up. This is kind of a waste of time.'"

@freezinghusky

Can’t believe the neighbors called the cops #freezinghusky

Indeed, many owners report that their Huskies are more than just content to be out in the snow and cold. They live for it. They thrive on it. The colder and snowier the better. Naturally, there are extreme conditions that any animals would need to shelter from, but certain dog breeds—Huskies, Malamutes, Samoyeds, and a few others—are built for arctic conditions, so they can tolerate cold and snow much better than other dogs.

And they all have owners who have to convince people every winter that they aren't abusing or neglecting their dogs when they refuse to come in from the snow.

@enzo_thesamoyed

Abuse at its finest 😅 #enzo_thesamoyed #Snowdog #winter #dogsofttiktok #throwback #samoyed

The concern from neighbors is well-intentioned and based on legitimate concerns, of course. Some people assume it's okay to keep dogs out in the snow because they have fur, but size, age and breed make huge differences in how long a dog can comfortably or safely tolerate cold conditions. Dogs can get frostbite and hypothermia, so it's wise for pet owners to be aware of best practices for letting their dogs out in the winter. But certain breeds of dogs are built for the snow, so if you see these pups chilling outside, you might want to pause before assuming the worst.

Siberian Husky

husky dogHuskies are known for their icy blue eyes.Photo credit: Canva

Bred to be sled dogs in Northern Asia, huskies have a double layer of fur—a dense, wooly undercoat that traps heat covered by longer, coarse guard hairs that repel water to keep them dry in the snow.

Samoyed

samoyed dogSamoyeds are camouflaged in the snow.Photo credit: Canva

Known as the "smiling sled dog," Samoyeds were bred to work outdoors in the world's coldest places. The main thing that sets them apart from huskies is their pure white coat.

Alaskan Malamute

alaskan malamute dogAlaskan malamutes are larger than huskies.Photo credit: Canva

Malamutes are kind of like huskies on steroids, being nearly twice their size. They are built for pulling heavier loads for longer distances, while huskies are built more for speed.

Norwegian Elkhound

norwegian elkhound dogWhen you hail from Norway, you have to like the snow.Photo credit: Canva

The Norwegian Elkhound has been dubbed the "silver viking." This ancient breed from the Nordic north is known for its hunting abilities.

Saint Bernard

saint bernard in the snowSaint Bernards are known as snow rescue dogs.Photo credit: Canva

The famous Swiss Alps rescue dog, the Saint Bernard has long been associated with the snowy mountains, and for good reason. The gentle giants are built for the snow, with their thick coats and extra large size.

Newfoundland

newfoundland dog in the snowThe opposite of Samoyeds, Newfoundlands stand out in the snow with their thick black coat.Photo credit: Canva

Newfoundlands were bred to work in the icy waters of Newfoundland, Canada, and their double coat keeps them protected from the frigid temps.

There's a handful of other dog breeds that thrive in cold weather, most of which are large breeds with thick fur designed to protect them from winter elements. Owners of cold weather dogs tell tales of trying to beg and plead for their pups to come inside in from the cold, only to be met with blatant refusal and blank stares that say, "Why would I want to do that, human?" So if you see a dog from one of these breeds spending a lot of time out in the snow and cold, there's a good chance they are there by choice and are blissfully happy about it. Barring truly extreme conditions, it's definitely worth checking with the owner before calling the cops to report neglect.

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