Never judge a book by its cover. Or, in the case of our four-legged friends: Never judge a dog by its shelter environment!
If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years, it’s that the anxious, stressed, or even aggressive dogs in the shelters are almost never who they truly are!
Just picture it: a dog that is genuinely affectionate and friendly, but after months of constant barking, noise, and confinement, they begin to lose their personality. It’s practically inevitable.
Hibiscus, a sweet three-month-old pup, knows this all too well. The shelter life took a toll on her, making her too scared even to leave her kennel…until a volunteer finally noticed her.
Love Was All She Needed
Kayla Lyman, the girl behind a TikTok account called Rosie And The Shelter Pups, is a dedicated shelter dog ambassador. Recently, she showcased Hibiscus’ story in a video, and it soon went viral.
Hibiscus, a female three-month-old puppy, arrived at West Valley City Animal Services in Utah as a friendly dog. However, the shelter environment soon affected her personality in the saddest way possible: she became terrified of everything.
Hibiscus refused to leave her kennel; by that time the only familiar “room” she knew.
She was far from socialized. She lacked the confidence needed for meeting new people and dogs. But Lyman was about to showcase her true personality, explaining that her fear, in fact, wasn’t who she was.
“She went from scared to leave her shelter kennel to confident & cuddly. Her fear wasn’t who she was, it was where she was,” Kayla wrote in the video.
Just a few minutes into meeting each other, Lyman showered Hibiscus with love, and it already showed. The dog, initially scared of interaction, soon melted in Lyman’s lap in a meet-and-greet room, leaving her tiny enclosure for the first time.
Apparently, all she wanted this whole time was to be loved.
“Sometimes a change of environment gets you a completely different dog. She just wanted to feel safe & loved. Now she’s ready to be out all the time,” Kayla concluded.
The emotional video Lyman posted on her TikTok touched many hearts. People reached out, leaving heartwarming comments and expressing their solidarity with Hibiscus and her situation.
“Praying she finds her forever family and gets all of the love she deserves,” one commenter wrote.
“She is SO adorable!!!!! I pray she finds the best family ASAP,” another added.
Hoping For A Chance
Although still in the Utah shelter, there’s no doubt that Lyman’s video helped Hibiscus gain a voice she never had.
At only three months of age, Hibiscus is at the start of her life journey. What she needs is a family who will show her what true love and life in a caring home feels like.
Lyman urges people who are thinking about getting a dog to always consider adopting from shelters.
“I would encourage anyone who is looking to get a dog, to shop shelters and rescues,” she said for Newsweek.
Whatever qualities you seek in a dog, whether friendly, active, low-key, a puppy, or a senior, you can find them there…all while saving a life from potential euthanasia.