Formerly-Abused Rescue Dog Has Hard Time Adjusting Until Mom Gets Him Foster Kitten to Love

I’ve had foster dogs who were ready to join the family within a few hours. Others take a longer time to warm up. When we rescued our cats, it was a whole year before we were able to catch them snuggling with us while we slept.

All of which is to say, it very much depends on the animal how long it takes for them to open up and be their true selves. And sometimes they need a little help, like this formerly abused rescue dog whose heart opened when he got the opportunity to care for foster kittens of his very own.

A woman in Houston chose Chapo from the shelter when he was on the list to be euthanized. She described the pit bull mix as “the saddest dog in the shelter” and the many scars on his beautiful brown face were a testament to the terrible times he had been through before coming to live with her. But despite the fact that Chapo was now in a safe, loving home, he still seemed depressed.

Related: Animal Behaviorist Shares the Heartbreaking and Emotional Reality of Rescuing Dogs

“For months, progress was slow, and I was beginning to worry about him,” she writes in the captions. “Until I fostered a kitten.”

It seems like the key to making her rescue dog happy was letting him rescue kittens.

In the video, you can see how gentle and calm he is with these tiny creatures, allowing them to sleep pressed up next to his giant body, nuzzling them with his big snout, and softly mouthing them when they get rambunctious. A better foster dad you couldn’t hope to find.

Over the years, Chapo has helped him mom foster many kittens and the results have been rewarding for everyone involved.

Dogs and Cats

Though the stereotype says that dogs and cats don’t get along, situations like Chapo’s are more of the norm than otherwise, In truth, most dogs can get along just fine with the other animals in their house, whether they are other dogs, cats, birds or anything else. The process of having your dog bond with other animals will differ depending on your individual dog’s personality. Some dogs are instantly curious and happy about having another animal in the house—like this one. Other dogs need to be taught how to be gentle and respectful of fellow creature’s space and little bodies. When first introducing your dog to new pets, it pays to make sure you supervise and know what kind of interaction to expect.

Foster Animal Timelines

When a rescue animal first comes to a new home, it may take a while for them to adjust to their surroundings and relax. Many rescues advise thinking of the animals as being on a “3-3-3” timeline. According to this rule, it will normally take a foster or rescue dog three days to stop feeling terrorized, three weeks to let their real personality shine through, and three months to accept the place they are living in as their new home. During this time period, it’s important to be gentle with them, avoid throwing too many new experiences and people at them, and being patient as they test boundaries and try to figure out the rules of their new home.

And maybe, as Chapo proved, they just need a pet of their own to love.

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