Woman Who Rescued Dog Reveals Why You Always Ask Before Petting

A dog owner has revealed an unusual reason why people should never pet a dog without asking first.

TikTok user @harveytherescue treated viewers to a lesson in canine etiquette that's both entertaining and informative. With more than 300,000 views, the video features rescue dog Harvey and the story of an encounter that serves to teach a lesson.

In a video of Harvey sitting quietly on the couch, a text overlay tells the story: "I often think about the time a guy in public ran up to my dog and bent over to pet him without asking me if it was okay. The guy was carrying a hot dog in his hand and when he bent over to pet, my dog stole his hot dog right out of his hand. And that is why you don't pet a dog without asking."

The story of how Harvey liberated the man's hot dog left the internet in stitches and viewers on TikTok rushed to the comments, revealing this was a far from isolated incident.

Comments flooded in from amused viewers, each sharing their own tales of snack-snatching canines.

"My golden retriever stole a piece of pizza from a drunk girl who was trying to pet him outside a bar lol," wrote AJK63.

While viewer BreExplainsItAll recalled: "One time a woman brought an ice cream cone into the dog park & my greyhound snatched it so fast."

"One time my dog stole a bagel off of a lady's lap in a park lol," said viewer Christine.

Others praised the dog's quick reactions that left him with a snack. One viewer wrote: "Your dog is an icon," while another joked: "He said no petting me without paying a fee."

But despite the laughter and jokes, there is a more serious message in the viral video: you should always ask before you pet a dog.

It is important to check before petting an unknown dog for both your and the dog's safety, as failing to do so can lead to unexpected consequences.

While sometimes this means losing out on a meal you were looking forward to, more serious incidents could result in a bite or other injury.

Anxiety and distraction can lead to potential aggression in some dogs, and seeking permission not only respects the dog's boundaries but keeps everyone safe too.

Harvey's advice serves as a great reminder for the next time you see a dog that you'd like to say hello to: Remember to ask before you pet.

Newsweek reached out to @harveytherescue via TikTok for comment.

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