A terrified shelter dog who had given up on the kindness of humans and started shaking every time anyone approached her has left the internet in tears.
Ladybug, a pit bull mix, arrived at Genesee County Animal Control on April 12 after being found as a stray. She’d been spotted in the Flint, Michigan, area for several days before a resident managed to take her to the shelter.
When Ladybug arrived, it was clear that she’d been through plenty of trauma. Hannah Peterson, 27, a staff member at Genesee County Animal Control, could see that she was “absolutely terrified” and didn’t trust people. Indeed, Peterson told Newsweek that Ladybug looked like she’d “lost hope in humanity.”
The poor dog refused to get out of the car at first, trying to shrink into the backseat instead. She had to be carried into the shelter and placed in a kennel, where staff did their best to make her feel comfortable.
Ladybug, the pit bull mix, pictured in her shelter kennel with Hannah Peterson.
@hannahreneepeterson / TikTok
“It was heartbreaking to see how fearful and reserved she was,” Peterson said. “We have scared dogs come through our facility all the time, but she was different. Her sweet, soulful eyes were truly begging for kindness and comfort. She looked almost as if she had given up and it was clear that someone had failed her in the past.”
During her first week, Ladybug would curl up in a tight ball and remain “almost motionless” in her kennel. Anytime someone walked by or approached, her whole body would start shaking in fear. It was likely she’d experienced trauma before, so she feared that any human was going to harm her.
Peterson and her colleagues would regularly speak to Ladybug in soothing tones, give her treats, and stay with her to try and ease the stress.
“She would just look at me with such a sad expression while her body visibly shook. She would calm down a little and stop shaking, until just the sound of a dog barking made her start again. It was as if she was giving up hope that she could ever be happy or trust someone again,” Peterson said.
Fortunately, a spot opened up in another part of the shelter and Ladybug was relocated (by being carried) to that area. It was quieter and staff noticed big improvements within a day.
Ladybug the pit bull mix in the Michigan shelter.
@hannahreneepeterson / TikTok
Peterson said: “The next morning, her spirits were so much higher, and she was finally ready to go for her first walk. From there, she improved with each passing day and started making friends. Positive body language, a soothing voice, and vulnerability go a long way with a dog in an extremely vulnerable state.
“Ladybug has come such a long way and is doing amazing now. She is still very anxious and sad when in her kennel, but the moment you get her out, she is happy and ready to go. She is learning slowly but surely that not all humans are bad.”
She’s a “resilient soul” who has experienced so much but is still willing to open up to those she can trust.
Genesee County Animal Control is a no-kill shelter that ensures all animals are vaccinated, spayed/neutered, and microchipped before finding a home.
After seeing the progress that Ladybug has made, Peterson shared a video of her on TikTok (@hannahreneepeterson) to show how sweet the rescue pup truly is. The heartbreaking video shows Ladybug as she “started shaking every single time someone walked by her kennel.”
In just a matter of days, the clip has gone viral with over 129,100 views and 39,800 likes at the time of writing.
Indeed, the social media attention has even helped Ladybug find a forever home as she has since been adopted. Her family is said to love her already and she’s settled in perfectly.
Ladybug and Hannah Peterson pictured together in the shelter.
@hannahreneepeterson / TikTok
“The support she received has been incredible. I know things like this are hard to see, but it’s the reality of shelter life. Abuse, neglect, and abandonment are extremely prevalent issues in our world, and we are hoping that the awareness we spread, the less likely these things will happen,” Peterson told Newsweek.
Shelter animals like Ladybug need love, but above all else, what they need the most is time and patience. Peterson was so pleased to see the progress that Ladybug made in recent weeks, and she’s turned into a playful, fun-loving pup with her own unique personality.
The viral video of Ladybug shaking has left internet users in tears, leading to more than 4,200 comments on TikTok already.
One comment reads: “We need to help find this baby a home ASAP.”
Another TikTok user wrote: “She needs out of there and some love!!”
While another person replied: “She is literally meant to be someone’s best friend!”
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? We want to see the best ones! Send them in to life@newsweek.com and they could appear on our site.
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