It is common for animals to ease the distress of humans—but what about the other way around?
A woman’s video on TikTok has gone viral after she realized her son might be her new foster dog’s “emotional support human.” Since the clip was posted by Sam (@sfmcguire), it has received over 368,000 likes. Sam, 32, who didn’t wish to give her surname, told Newsweek about the relationship between the two, and how sweet it has been to see it flourish.
“I think our son may have accidentally become the emotional support human for our new foster dog, who is 7 years old,” Sam, from Tennessee, said in the video. “I think that she grew up with little kids, because she was really scared at my house until she heard my toddler waking up from his nap.”
Sam speaks in her TikTok video. The clip has gone viral after she said that her son may have become her foster dog’s “emotional support human”.
@sfmcguire/TikTok
Sam added that the dog, Ariel, loves to be around her son—if he is running around the house, she said, so is she. She even brought her son to a vet appointment—something she thought she would never do—because she knew her toddler’s presence might calm the pup down.
Sam told Newsweek that Ariel’s comfort around her son was rare.
“Foster dogs are generally nervous around toddlers,” she said. “Many of them have never even been inside a home before, so a 2-year-old is usually a new experience for fosters. I was very surprised at how excited she was to see I had a toddler. Before she saw him, she was extremely nervous and obviously confused about being moved to a new home.”
Sam, who has been fostering since May 2023, said Ariel has fallen in love with all three of her kids over time.
While Sam will have to say goodbye to the dog who loves her toddler, she has already given a forever home to one of her fosters.
“It was totally random,” Sam said. “I saw an organization that needed a foster for a 12-year-old bully mix, and I thought I’d try it out. She’s my first foster fail, I love her so much. She was severely neglected before living with us, and I’m so grateful that we have her for the rest of her life. I wish I had her sooner.”
Sam said some dogs are easier than others, but the experience is worth it. While the bond her son has made with Ariel is strong and unique, she said the loss will be just fine with him.
“He’s only 2; he usually doesn’t even notice,” Sam said. “Our older kids have been sad about a few, but they also love to meet their new adopters and give them goodbye kisses. It helps that we have our own forever dogs that aren’t going anywhere.
“It will sting when Ariel leaves, but we will be ready and willing to help the next dog that needs us,” Sam added.
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