Rescuing stray animals is never simple, and Donna Lochmann from Stray Rescue of St. Louis, Missouri, knows that after more than twenty years on the front lines.
She often has to work patiently to gain the trust of animals who have been betrayed by people, but this terrified Pittie reacted in a way Lochmann had rarely seen.
In only a couple of minutes, the frightened street dog shifted into a total sweetheart, and that sudden change won the hearts of people across the internet.
Donna’s decades of rescue work had prepared her for many situations, but this moment surprised even her.
From Scared To Sweetheart
It all unfolded on Valentine’s Day when Donna Lochmann received a call about a fearful dog seen near an industrial area.
When Donna arrived at the scene, the dog peeked cautiously from around a building corner. As Donna approached slowly, the dog tried to bolt, only to find herself trapped between a fence and the wall.
“She was definitely looking for a way to get away from me, but there was no way out. She barked a couple of times, like a super-scared warning,” Donna told The Dodo.
Donna had rescued countless strays over the years, but none had reacted quite like this one.
With no means of escape, the poor dog cowered on the floor, tail tucked in out of fear.
Seeing how scared she was, Donna started throwing her some food and talking sweetly to her. “I knelt down so she didn’t feel so threatened and started talking to her. I tossed one sausage over to her, and she ate it,” Donna said.
She offered another piece, expecting the dog to keep eating, but something different happened.
The dog ignored the other sausages and moved straight toward Donna instead. It was as if the dog recognized a safe person at last.
“She passed right by the other sausages. When she got to me, she nuzzled her head right in my shirt, then she rolled over and looked up at me,” Donna recalled.
Even for an experienced rescuer, the moment was surprising. No one present expected such an immediate transformation.
The dog, later named Cutie Pie, completely melted into Donna’s arms, finally understanding she was safe.
“It was so sweet, the way she looked up at me as if she were saying, ‘Thank you!’” Donna said.
All It Takes Is Love
Donna and Cutie Pie drove to Stray Rescue of St. Louis, where the pup received food, a warm bath, and a full veterinary checkup.
Everyone at the rescue fell in love with Cutie Pie’s affectionate nature. She came out of her shell almost instantly; a little attention and kindness unlocked her joyful spirit.
Her eyes, once clouded with fear, now gleamed with life. Soon after, Cutie Pie moved into a foster home she adored.
“She curls up in her bed as well as her little foster dog brother’s bed. She has the biggest, sweetest smile, she loves zooming around the yard… she is one special soul with infectious joy,” the rescue wrote in their Facebook post.
After everything she had been through, she is finally safe, cherished, and surrounded by the love she has always deserved.