Rescue animals typically need time to adjust to their new environment or homes and decompress from any trauma they endured; however, they often show signs that they understand they’re in a safer place. At least one owner is convinced her dog “knows.”
TikTok user @napoligelatouk rescued her dog Patch about three years ago after he was found wandering the streets of Romania as a puppy with his brother. Despite his early puppy months of living on the streets, Patch immediately found comfort in his rescuer. He somehow knew she would never let anything bad happen to him again and clung to her.
“He immediately bonded to me and has been my shadow ever since,” she told Newsweek via TikTok.
While it was an easy match for these two, Patch didn’t show the same feelings toward others, especially men. She explained that he is “extremely frightened” of men. It took Patch about six months for him to fully trust her boyfriend and dad. Thankfully, Patch turned the corner with her boyfriend and he again “knows” he’s been rescued.
Patch was caught cuddling his owner’s boyfriend on the couch in an October 3 TikTok video. The boyfriend’s arm wrapped around Patch and he gently gave him pets. Patch looked fully relaxed, knowing he was safe and sound in both his owner’s and the boyfriend’s presence.
Screenshots from an October 3 TikTok video of a rescue dog cuddling on the couch with the owner’s boyfriend. The owner is convinced rescue dogs know when they’ve been saved.
@napoligelatouk/TikTok
Touched by the dog’s comfort, viewers agreed with the owner saying “they definitely know” when pets are rescued and safe in their forever homes.
“Oh stoppppp,” commented another person to which the owner replied that these two are now “besties.”
An article from Fi, a dog collar company, reported that dogs might not remember their past the way humans do. However, they can associate experiences with emotions. They can compare their experience in their rescue home to what it was like before then. Those positive experiences will make them realize they are in a better, safer place.
Dogs might understand their situation has improved after being rescued, but, according to the article, they don’t necessarily know they moved from an animal shelter or that their owner saved them. All dogs know is their quality of life increased and they’ll show their thanks to their rescuers. If not right away, they’ll warm up and show it eventually.
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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