Rescue Dog Now Gives Emotional Support To Tiny Foster Animals And It's So Pure

Some big dogs have even bigger hearts, and that certainly seems to be the case with a beautiful canine named Chicken. "It was never the goal to have her being the emotional support dog," Alyssa Krieger told The Dodo in a September 2025 YouTube video that's been viewed more than 1.6 million times. Krieger is an employee of the nonprofit Angell Animal Medical Center, and she brought Chicken home in May 2022. Since then, the Irish wolfhound has helped Krieger foster many tiny, helpless creatures. "Because I work at the shelter, there are often animals that just need a place to go," she added to The Dodo.

Chicken particularly adores kittens and bunnies. The video shows her watching a tiny 3-week-old kitten named Gumball, allowing several kittens to climb all over her, and sniffing little bunnies. She isn't as smitten with puppies, though. "It's interesting because tiny baby puppies, she's like, 'This is too small. I'm not really that interested.' But tiny kittens, she just wants to watch them," Krieger explained. The loving Irish wolfhound has also formed a strong bond with Krieger's son, Max, and some of the sweetest videos on Chicken's Instagram feature the two playing together.

Many comments on The Dodo's YouTube video praise Chicken's sweet, loving nature and refer to the Irish wolfhound as an angel and true gentle giant. "What a beautiful dog with a HUGE heart...she's an example to human beings..." one user wrote. A few eagle-eyed viewers also pointed out the heart-shaped patch of white fur visible on Chicken's otherwise-gray chest, mentioning how apt it is for the big-hearted dog to have a big white heart in her gray fur. "Anyone notice that wonderful amazing baby has what looks like a heart on her chest...she is so precious ," another user commented. 

Naturally, many people seemed to be tickled by the name Chicken for a dog. In an absolutely adorable Instagram video, Max explains that the family's previous dog was named Tuna. Because tuna is sometimes referred to as the chicken of the sea, it made sense to name the family's new pet Chicken. Max originally proposed the name Garbage Truck for the sweet Irish wolfhound, but unsurprisingly, Max's parents vetoed that suggestion. 

The Irish wolfhound is the true gentle giant of the dog world, with males able to reach a height of 3 feet — the tallest of any American Kennel Club breed — and a weight of 180 pounds. Despite their huge size, these serene, patient hounds are known to be affectionate with family members and friendly toward other dogs. Their protective nature often compels them to alert their owners whenever strangers appear. 

Irish wolfhounds are usually considered one of the best-behaved dog breeds, sometimes even being employed as therapy dogs, but they're also a dog breed that's likely to steal your food because of their size. It's just too easy for them to reach the top of a kitchen counter (or even a refrigerator!) and swipe whatever tasty treats they come across. 

On the downside, Irish wolfhounds are definitely not one of the longest-living dog breeds. As with many large dogs, they have a shortened lifespan, usually living just six to eight years. Still, as Chicken proves, these affectionate dogs can spread a lot of love during their lives.