The Need for Love: Every Dog’s Right
All dogs deserve loving humans who will adore them and shower them with affection.
Sadly, countless dogs are deprived of this basic need, living in homes where they endure abuse and mistreatment.
Ziggy was one of those unfortunate dogs who experienced neglect. Despite her capacity for love, she never received affection from her owners.
Fortunately, her life took a positive turn when compassionate individuals discovered her abandoned outside a vacant house, along with three other dogs.
Rescuers believe that the dogs’ owners were evicted from their home and callously left their animals behind.
A Traumatic Transition: Ziggy at the Shelter
When Ziggy was brought to Palm Beach Animal Care and Control in Florida, she was terrified and withdrawn. Her difficult past made the noisy and chaotic shelter an overwhelming environment for her.
Everything frightened her, and the shelter staff had to physically carry her because she was too afraid to walk on a leash.
Ziggy’s caregivers suspected that she had been used for breeding purposes.
Recognizing that she couldn’t overcome her past trauma in the stressful shelter setting, they desperately wanted to find a loving foster family for her.
They reached out to Jess Katz and her boyfriend, Steve Leone, experienced foster parents, to ask if they could welcome Ziggy into their home.
Katz and Leone readily agreed to foster Ziggy, and they promptly went to the Florida shelter to pick her up.
Upon bringing her home, Katz and Leone allowed her time to decompress in a crate, providing her with a safe and quiet space.
They quickly observed that she exhibited a particular fear of men.
After some time, the couple gently encouraged her to leave the crate and spend time with them. Ziggy clearly desired to be near them but remained too afraid to venture out.
Building Trust: A Gradual Process
The family members dedicated themselves to making the pup feel loved and valued.
Since Ziggy was hesitant to eat alone, Katz provided her with company during mealtimes. Gradually, the pup began to warm up to her foster mom.
Leone also made a conscious effort to demonstrate his affection and earn Ziggy’s trust. He would lie down next to her crate and offer her gentle cuddles.
As time passed, the dog began to realize that her foster parents were kind and trustworthy individuals who would never intentionally harm her.
She eventually left her crate and started spending time with the family’s dogs outdoors. She thoroughly enjoyed playing with her canine companions.
Her dog friends played a crucial role in teaching her how to “be a dog,” showing her typical canine behaviors and interactions.
Katz noticed that Ziggy seemed unfamiliar with a typical home environment, suggesting that she had never lived in a house before. She appeared confused by mirrors, as if she had never encountered her own reflection.
Gaining Confidence: A Heartwarming Breakthrough
Over time, the dog gradually started seeking affection from her foster parents.
Katz captured a precious moment when Ziggy mustered the courage to approach Leone and allow him to pet her.
She shared the video on TikTok, where it garnered significant attention and moved viewers.
“Watch how my foster dog gains confidence to approach my boyfriend when she sees how the other dogs feel safe with him,” Katz wrote in the video caption.
The footage shows Leone kneeling on the floor, showering the couple’s three dogs with affection. The dogs eagerly accepted his attention, wagging their tails with joy.
Ziggy, who had been observing her foster dad and the other dogs from a distance, cautiously came forward, as if tentatively requesting his affection.
Leone noticed her, gently stroked her, and continued to pet the other dogs.
This was a significant breakthrough for Ziggy. She appeared genuinely happy to receive Leone’s cuddles, just like the other dogs.
The video touched the hearts of TikTok viewers, who were overjoyed to witness Ziggy’s progress in overcoming her fear, even if only momentarily.
The pup is thriving in her foster home. She enjoys following Katz around and showering her with affection.
The family is delighted with Ziggy’s progress and personality. However, they are unable to keep her permanently because they already have three dogs and are committed to continuing to foster shelter dogs.
They are hopeful that Ziggy will soon find her forever family, a loving home where she will be cherished and adored.
