Shelter Dog Without Single Visit for 5 Months Finds Forever Home

Some dogs have a rough start to life but fortunately many people are willing to give them a second chance. One dog's story has broken hearts on TikTok as he was overlooked for five months in a shelter.

Over 395,000 viewers have watched the moment Johnny Dzidic (@manwith2dogs) met a husky for the first time. It appears to be love at first sight as Bear, the dog, seems comfortable and is wagging his tail from the get-go.

"I saved his life and he made mine better," Dzidic, who lives in Santa Clarita, California, told Newsweek.

The text layered over the clip says: "The day we took in a 'senior' stray dog that had pee, poo, skunk sprayed, half shaved dog that not a single person visited for the five months that he was in the shelter."

During the clip filmed at Devore Animal shelter in San Bernardino, California, the woman who works there says she isn't sure what happened to the hair on Bear's back as it is noticeably shorter and damaged.

There seems to be some confusion about the canine's age, as Johnny and the member of staff can be heard discussing it. Apparently, the advert for Bear initially said he was 9 years old and then it changed to younger than 12 months. During the clip, the woman confirms he is around the 9-year mark.

However, in the comments of another video, Johnny revealed: "the vet said he's most likely around 5 years old." He also points out he saved Bear from euthanasia.

Dzidic told Newsweek: "Bear is a stray that was dropped off at a shelter, it was a very over crowded shelter and he was at the shelter for about five months and no one visited him once.

"His fur was matted so badly that groomers couldn't wash him so he didn't have a bath after being sprayed by a skunk when he was a stray.

"He had fleas and was in a horrible condition."

Each year 6.3 million pets are surrendered to U.S. shelters, which is an average of 17,260 a day, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

Around 920,000 surrendered animals are euthanized every year. Shelters are striving to minimize euthanasia rates by promoting adoption campaigns, spaying and neutering programs, and behavior rehabilitation.

So far, the video shared on September 30 has more than 27,600 likes and over 200 comments. Many of which praise Johnny for adopting Bear.

One user said: "You think they would clean him up to increase his chances of getting adopted. Thank God you could see the gem hiding in the fluff."

"Bear knew you were his person instantly," said another.

Another user said: "The stress a scared dog must feel with all that barking. Breaks my heart. Thank you for saving this sweet old man. He deserves all the love."

In the clip, Bear is described as a "sweet, lazy guy" and it seems that couldn't be any more true. Johnny's TikTok page is filled with videos of the dog who has settled into his forever home.

Update 10/23/23, 3:06 a.m. ET: This article has been updated with comment from the owner.

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