Chihuahua Can't Stop Staring At Foster Mom With A Look Of Pure Happiness
The luckiest strays and unwanted animals go up for adoption through a rescue organization, which often includes foster families until they find their forever homes. This little Chihuahua is one such lucky pup, and she knows it. Just watch this sweet TikTok video of the adorable miniature pooch gazing at her foster mom with a look of sheer contentedness.
@roroyourboat8 She literally smiles 😭😭 #chiuhuahuasoftiktok #dogs #fosterdog #pet #funny
"She literally smiles 😭😭," the caption notes, adding, "Our foster dog is just happy to be here 😭😭" as the Chihuahua sits on her foster mom's lap with a little smile as she gently gets petted. Set to the calming and charming piano song "Little Life" by Robert Gromotka, you can't help but feel the pup's joy in the moment. She is safe and loved, and she appreciates it.
"Respectfully, you need to keep that dog," said one viewer in the comments, with others also expressing the sentiment. Meanwhile, others shouted out the foster family and thanked them, saying things like, "Thank you for taking care of that beautiful dog 🙏🙏." Fostering isn't always easy, but moments like these make it oh so worth it.
What it means to foster an animal
Pet overpopulation and abandonment are serious issues, with millions of dogs and cats (and other animals) winding up homeless and in desperate need of help every year. So many, in fact, that, sadly, not all can be properly helped. Many wind up in animal shelters and at rescue organizations that assist them and then guide them to being adopted by loving families. One way rescue organizations keep up with the demand, especially when shelter space is limited, is by having caring animal lovers serve as foster parents.
When you foster an animal, it means you temporarily take them into your home and care for them until they find a permanent place to live (unless they become a "foster fail" and stay forever). The time commitment can be anywhere from a few weeks to several years, right up until the animal is adopted. The shelter or rescue from where the animal came usually covers expenses, including food, supplies, and medical care, while the individual foster provides affection, shelter, and day-to-day caretaking.
Fostering an animal helps save lives, as it frees up space at shelters and allows more animals to be rescued. It also offers the dog or cat a less stressful, more nurturing environment, potentially helping socialize puppies and kittens, giving senior pets a more comfortable temporary home, and/or allowing ailing animals a safe, attentive space to recover. At the same time, the process can allow companionship for people who may want to help shelters without adopting or giving money. It can be a tough job, but the animals will be forever grateful.