The exact moment a senior poodle felt safe in her new home has gone viral on Instagram.
The clip was shared to an Instagram page called @adoptolddogs run by a couple, Adrian and Spencer, from Seattle, Washington. It shows the poodle, Emma, shaking profusely while sitting on Adrian’s lap, who then starts to stroke her. Emma immediately calms down.
The on-screen text explains: “Emma was 14 when we adopted her. She was so overwhelmed at first. I can’t imagine being a tiny geriatric dog and finding yourself in a shelter, [and] then a couple of foster homes. But I think in this moment, she chose me as her forever human.”
At the time of writing, the video has amassed 1.4 million views and 107,000 likes. An excerpt from the caption states: “I can’t believe I got this moment on camera.”
The video has captivated the hearts of the internet and received plenty of comments too.
One user said: “Being a traumatized dog’s safe person is an incredible honor.”
“You gave this poor unwanted pup a gift from God! You are an earth angel! Bless you for your loving care and kindness. You inspire me, and prove there’s hope for humanity,” praised another person.
A third commenter said: “A magical moment. My pup is 14 and a geriatric rescue, there is nothing like it. Knowing he feels safe and loved with me is the best feeling.”
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While the video was shared at the end of December, it is old footage as February 18 marked Emma’s second anniversary with the couple.
When she was living in the shelter, Emma weighed three pounds, which is worryingly low. The American Kennel Club states that miniature poodles usually weigh between 10 to 15 pounds.
The couple recently uploaded a series of photos of the 16-year-old dog to mark two years in their care.
An excerpt from the caption says: “We brought Emma home after seeing the awful shape she was in – to be frank, I think we both assumed we’d maybe give her a good couple weeks, maybe a few months. She was in rough shape.
“Knowing that she’s at two years, with no signs of being done yet… I’m so, so grateful. Our joke is that she’s never going to die.”
Many people who are considering getting a dog may find themselves gravitating to puppies. Emma appears to be living proof that even though older dogs are frail, you can still form a close bond with them, because they still have a lot of life left in them.
Newsweek reached out to @adoptolddogs for comment via email. We could not verify the details of the case.
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to [email protected] with some details about your best friend and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.