Tears As Abandoned Shelter Dog Finally ‘Brave Enough’ To Cuddle With Worker

The moment a rescue dog showed trust with his previous foster parent left viewers in tears, showing that the power of patience pays off.

Shannon Corsi fosters her dogs through The Vanderpump Dog Foundation, based in Los Angeles. The rescue organization brought in a small, white dog named Austin at the end of March. Completely matted and dirty, Austin barely paid anyone attention. But for Corsi, that’s who she knew she needed to foster.

“I remember the first day I met him, he was shaking uncontrollably, sitting in the back of his kennel,” Corsi told Newsweek.

Two days later, Corsi fostered Austin. She said he was extremely scared and skinny. He wouldn’t eat. He had kennel cough. He started to vomit, which led him to develop pneumonia.

With constant care, medicine and endless love, Corsi helped him through his “roughest time.” She estimated it took about three weeks for him to beat pneumonia, but once he started feeling better, he started growing his confidence. A month later, he truly let his personality show.

Corsi visits Austin at the rescue center while he waits for his forever home. Recently, she couldn’t believe Austin’s reaction to seeing her. It’s as if he remembered she was his foster mother.

The special moment between Austin and Corsi was shared on the TikTok account @savethedogs. Corsi sat on the ground, cheering and clapping for Austin. Overcome with excitement, Austin made his way to her and plopped down on her lap, the first time he’d ever done so.

Austin went from being scared and nervous around humans to being “brave enough” to sit with the one who helped him come out of his shell. Corsi said he now goes up to people, loves to twirl around when excited, does well with other dogs, and is well-behaved.

However, despite Corsi’s high praise for the 2-year-old dog, Austin is still waiting for his forever home.

“I think people pass him by because they’re scared of his eye situation,” she said.

When Austin was born, one of his eyes never fully developed. This one gets stuck to the side, but he is not in pain. There is nothing to suggest Austin needs his eye removed, Corsi said. He can still see, but his vision is limited.

“I’m just really hoping the right person finds him,” she said. “That person will be really lucky.”

Touched by Austin’s actions, TikTok viewers called it the “biggest honor” and a “privilege.” It is not every day an abused dog picks you to put their trust in humans again.

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.