Rottweiler Rescued From Tent With Her 7 Puppies Transforms Into A Sweet Lapdog

Some dogs are lucky enough to live in a loving home right from the moment they're born, while others are neglected, abandoned, or suffer from abuse at the hands of cruel people. In a YouTube video from September 2025 that's been viewed more than 1.3 million times, Darcy the rottweiler is clearly nervous around humans, which suggests she was the recipient of some less-than-kind treatment in her past.

"I got an emergency phone call saying that a mama dog and her seven brand new babies were living in a tent outside," says Laurette of Hope Ranch Animal Sanctuary in Anza, California, in the video's voiceover. Darcy watches as Laurette patiently deposits the seven small puppies into a van. Eventually, the sweet rottie allows herself to be loaded into the van as well, and the canine family is whisked away to a foster home.

Thanks to the loving care of this foster family, Darcy transforms into an affectionate, cuddly dog who doesn't seem to realize she's much too large to be a lapdog. "Seeing her go from scared and protective to happy and playful with her stick is EVERYTHING. Thank you for showing the world how powerful kindness and patience can be 🙌," writes PetVibesshow in the video's comments. "Darcy's transformation is incredible 😍 from living in a tent to finally feeling safe with her babies...this gave me chills. Thank you for not giving up on her!" writes Cats.show1.

Many of the comments on the YouTube video debate whether Darcy actually is a Rottweiler. One commenter suggests that Darcy's personality and temperament indicate a Doberman pinscher, while a few point out that she seems to be a mix. "And what does it matter what breed the animal is? You need to step in and help where you can, that's the right thing to do," writes one viewer.

Rottweilers and Doberman pinschers are considered two of the smartest dog breeds in the world, well-suited to being therapy animals. They're also two of the dog breeds most likely to save you during an emergency, thanks to their size, strength, loyalty, and protective natures. But there are also some differences between a Rottweiler and a Doberman. Rottweilers tend to be shorter and stockier and boast broader chests, while Dobermans are usually taller and leaner. Dobermans also often have a higher energy level than Rottweilers. Both breeds have short coats, but Dobermans come in an array of colors, while Rottweilers tend to be black with markings in shades of mahogany or rust.

Darcy and her seven puppies all eventually found their forever homes, a happy outcome that likely wouldn't be possible without a foster home. "Darcy has done a complete 180. It's so unexpected and just amazing. This is why fosters are so important," says Laurette in the YouTube video voiceover.

A foster home gives a rescue dog a chance to be socialized, get some basic training, and learn to trust humans, making the pup more adoptable. Foster homes are less stressful for rescued animals than noisy, crowded animal shelters. By living temporarily in a foster home, an animal's true personality gets a chance to shine through, so potential adopters can receive a more accurate picture of the animal's temperament and behavior. "Darcy's journey to slowly trust again truly touched my heart. Immense gratitude to her foster family for showing her the patience and love she deserved. This is the perfect example of how fostering changes, and saves, lives," PawmiseTales writes in the video's comments.

To read more heartwarming stories about animal fosters and adoptions, check out these 17 foster fails — they're utterly adorable — along with this tale of a rescue dog who found a family after being returned to a shelter and the story of a sick rescue dog's incredible transformation after adoption.